Hyderabad:
Introduction of sex education in high schools has "spoiled" the minds of children of impressionable age, a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court said today.
"Introduction of sex education in high schools (adult education programme), launched in 2005-06, has only spoiled the minds of children in the impressionable age. Parents have a responsibility to bring children back on the right track," Justice L Narasimha Reddy said.
Justice Reddy, also the Chairman of the High Court Legal Services Committee, further said the collapse of the joint family system has created a sense of insecurity for children.
He was speaking at a sensitisation programme for stake-holders on the "Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012".
Speaking at the function, Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court, Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta, observed that though the Act was passed over a year ago, a lot needed to be done when it came to its implementation.
"The last 20 years have witnessed growing incidents of sexual offences against children," Justice Sengupta said and emphasised the role media and police played in checking this.
"The incidents of child sexual abuse and exploitation which are reported at schools, rural areas, hospitals and other public places can be prevented through immediate action," he said, while stressing the need for the media to report such incidents only after ascertaining all facts.
Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police, B Prasada Rao said the emergence of nuclear families had created a situation wherein parents were unable to give quality time and parental care to children.
"There (parents) responsibility is handed over to maids or wardens," he said.
TV, cinema, internet and mobile phones were proving to be a distraction and were also adversely affecting the behaviour of children, Mr Rao said.
"Police have to be courteous with child victims of sexual abuse and they should not provoke them with abusive behaviour as the victims of sexual abuse are in a state of shock, trauma and fear," he added.