Legislation

* The Constitution of India states in Article 23 that trafficking human beings is prohibited and is a punishable offense. (ExternalAffairs)

* The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act,1956 (ITPA) penalizes soliciting, living on the earnings of prostitution, owning a brothel, visiting a brothel, procuring or detaining for prostitution and trafficking or attempted trafficking, especially of children. The punishment for trafficking varies from seven to 14 years of imprisonment, or, in the case of child trafficking, from seven years to life.

* IPC section 372 punishes selling a minor girl for purposes of prostitution, etc. and section 373 punishes buying a minor girl for purposes of prostitution, etc. (Sonwani, 2013)

* The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2013 added sections 370 and 370A which define the punishment for trafficking for any or all reasons and condemns sexual exploitation. (Wikipedia)

* The Protection Of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act provides for the protection of children from the offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography while safeguarding the interests of the child at every stage of the judicial process by incorporating child-friendly mechanisms for reporting, recording of evidence, investigation and speedy trial of offences through designated Special Courts. The recent amendments to this act increase the minimum punishment from seven to 10 years. Additionally, if a person commits penetrative sexual assault on a child below the age of 16 years, it is punishable with imprisonment between 20 years to life, with a fine.

* Recent amendments in the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 treats a minor of age 16-18 years as an adult if he has committed any heinous crime in a conflict of the law. The Act also seeks for a universally accessible adoption law for India, overtaking the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 and Guardians and Wards Act, 1890. (Sunil Prabhu, 2015)

* National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) provides a compensation scheme for women victims/survivors of sexual assault/other crimes. (India, 2018)