‘A single window mechanism for providing coordinated services of a doctor, psychologist, police, advocate and prosecutor, to ensure speedy justice for children who survived sexual offences and maximum punishment for the guilty’ is a progressive thought that will do away with the hassle of multiple points of contact while dealing with the redressal of sexual offence cases.

In an effort to prevent further trauma to victims in the process of meting out justice, The Kerala High Court while issuing detailed guidelines for the investigation and trial of POCSO cases, directed the state government to take immediate steps to make One-Stop Support Centres operational, as directed by the SC. Under this system, a nodal officer appointed by the State government will act as the single-point contact with the government, and coordinate with the various departments in implementing POCSO Act and resolving all related issues. The officer will also coordinate the training of the various stakeholders involved, including the police and the Judges of POCSO courts, on juvenile justice principles.

This new proposed structure will hopefully bring relief to the victims of sexual crimes, by minimising the time and the extent of exposure to the different tiers of the system that need to be negotiated to ultimately reach the point of justice. In a society where sexual offences against a child still carries a lot of stigma, and is seen through prejudiced eyes, the trauma of reliving the incident over and over again through extended periods of time is painful for the child as well as the parents. This new system will also simplify and provide greater clarity about the course of action to be followed, easing the pressure of understanding the complex procedures that are often associated with such cases.

This initiative which is part of an ambitious drive titled ‘child friendly Kerala’, is a model which, if replicated across the country will bring respite, quick justice, and act as a deterrent to future instances of sexual violence against children. One-stop support centres in all the states could be India’s step forward to becoming a truly child friendly nation.