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Sex Crimes[1]

QUESTION BANK

Q.1 Define sex crime. How they can be prevented.

Q.2 Define sex crime. Write different types of sex crimes.

SHORT NOTES

1 Sex crimes.

Causes of increase in sex crimes.

I] INTRODUCTION:-

Sex Crimes prevail in almost all societies. It has increased in India, too, like in other Western countries. In modern times, parents have lost control over their children. It led to indiscriminate rowdyism, vagrancy, etc., among children. In the days of modern technology, the easy availability of pornographic material on TV, Mobile etc., has increased sexual offences such as unmarried motherhood, abortions, rape, kidnapping, enticement, assault etc.; these offences nowadays have increased manifold against children.

“Sexual intercourse with force or without the consent of a female by a male” is generally called a sexual offence.

II] TYPES OF SEXUAL OFFENCES:-

Following are the types of sexual offences found generally in all countries-

1) Rape:-

Rape is the very worst kind of sexual offence. It is sexual intercourse by a man against a woman without her consent.

The offence of rape and gang rape have increased enormously. The Nirbhaya case in Delhi has attracted public and political attention to the menace. It paved the way for stiffer legislation.

2) Incest[2]:-

Incest is a sexual relationship between persons so related by the kindred affinity that legal marriage cannot occur between them. Thus, the relationship between father and daughter and brother and sister are in prohibited degrees. Sex between them amounts to incest.

3) Homosexuality[3]:-

Sex between persons of the same sex is called homosexuality. It especially refers to sex between men. The sex between women is referred to as lesbian.

377 of I.P.C prohibit homosexuality or lesbians.

4) Illegal abortions:-

Abortions other than for health purposes are called illegal abortions.

Carrying a miscarriage with or without the woman’s consent is an offence under S. 312 and 313 of I.P.C.

5) Prostitution

Prostitution means the sexual exploitation or abuse of persons for commercial purposes.

Prostitution can also be defined as indiscriminate sexual intercourse for pay.

Prostitution has increased enormously nowadays.

6) Immoral Traffic:-

‘Immoral trafficking’ is buying or selling a person for an immoral purpose. Immoral trafficking is prohibited in India and several other countries. However, it is practised in some Islamic states.

7) Pornography:-

Pornography is material that depicts erotic behaviour and is intended to cause sexual excitement. Pornography is prohibited in many countries. S. 292 of the Indian Penal Code provides punishment for the sale of obscene books. Pornography is defined as obscenity in the Indian Penal Code. S. 292 to S 294 of the Indian Penal Code deals with public morals and decency offences.

III] Reasons for Sexual Offences:-

Following are some of the important reasons attributed to sexual offences, viz.

1) Desire for change and variety in sex life:-

As men want to change and variety in food, clothing, music, etc., they desire the same in their sexual life too. Therefore, the desire to have a change in routine sexual life and the lust to have a variety in sexual living lead people to develop extra-marital or pre-marital relations.

2) Decline of religious force:-

In modern times, the institutions of religion, once a potential instrument of social control, have lost their force. This has led to the decline of moral and ethical values. The craze for comfort and a luxurious life has undermined the glory of traditional Indian culture.

3) Industrial development:-

Industrial development has caused radical changes in society. Women are also working with men. The closer association of men with women provides an occasion for intimacy, which creates a background for sex delinquency.

4) Urbanisation:-

Large-scale migration is taking place in urban areas in search of a job. This creates a saturation of the population, which creates many problems related to sex.

5) Pornography:-

The easy availability of pornographic material through TV, Mobile, movies, etc., causes irresistible sex impulses, which often result in sex delinquency.

6) Influence of intoxicants:-

The intoxicants, such as liquor, drugs, morphine, etc., also account for the incidence of sex crimes. Intoxication has also increased many folds in the present day. It has, unfortunately, become a symbol of celebration.

7) Modern living style:-

Western culture has had a great impact on Indian people. Indians mindlessly imitate Western people. The style of shorts and tight dresses invite lustful men to them. It is an invitation to sex crimes.

8) Broken family:-

Due to modernization and industrialisation, homes have broken, which automatically leads to sex delinquency.

IV] Remedial Measures:-

Following measures can be suggested to curb offences relating to sex-

1) Parents’ vigil[4]:-

Many a time, sex delinquency starts at the age of adolescence. Therefore, parents should keep children informed about natural and normal changes occurring these days.

2) Immediate police action:-

Many times, the police do not register F.I.R. in a woman’s complaint. Moreover, their inaction also causes dire consequences in a number of cases. Therefore, recording women’s complaints and immediate action by the police is necessary to keep the habit away.

3) Family bond:-

An attempt is to be made to keep the family bond intact. However, the disintegration of the family causes several problems. First, women from disintegrated families are more vulnerable to sex crimes.

4) Imparting moral, ethical, and spiritual education:-

It is found that morally, spiritually, and ethically strong persons always resist sexual crimes. Taking moral principles, yoga, etc., has been found very effective in controlling all types of crimes, including sex crimes.

5) Immediate Police help to a woman:-

It is important to provide immediate police help to needy women to prevent sex crimes against them.

Therefore, nowadays, police have provided some mobile numbers for immediate help to women.

6) Obscenity in all forms needs to be prohibited:-

Obscenity in all audio and visual forms needs to be prevented. All that material, either in printed form, audio form or video form, needs to be prohibited if it stimulates sexual urge. The increase in sex crime nowadays contributes greatly to the mobile revolution. Pornographic material is easily available to them. Offences against children have increased enormously due to the negative effects of mobile, computer, and internet availability.

7) Effective laws and their enforcement:-

Effective laws and their effective implementation are very important in controlling sexual crimes. Therefore, there is a need for suitable amendments to existing laws.

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[1] लैंगिक गुन्हे

[2] जवळच्या नातलगाकडुन लैगिक संबंध k

[3] समलैंगीक संबंध

[4] पालकांचे लक्ष