Guwahati: A group of NGOs on Sunday demanded zero tolerance in crimes against children, particularly sexual abuse, while supporting the Centre's ordinance for death penalty for those convicted in the rape of child below 12 years.

The Adolescent and Child Rights Network (ACRNA), an umbrella body of nearly 21 NGOs, said Assam had reported low conviction rates in crimes against children for lack of understanding of legal provisions and the necessary sensitivity to deal with such cases.

"Though the rise in crimes against children has been seen nationally, this cannot be, under any circumstance, a justification for such incidents of extreme form of child rights violation and inhumanity taking place in Assam. ACRNA believes that any one committing any violence against any child, particularly sexual violence, should not be looked at from a myopic, skewed political and religious viewpoint or for that matter with any other consideration. The rule of law should be the only consideration in such crimes and against such criminals," ACRNA co-ordinator Chiranjeeb Kakoty said in a statement.

The network was launched in April last year to work jointly for protection of rights of children and adolescents.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, Assam was among the top 10 states with maximum number of crimes against children, increasing from 1,385 in 2014 to 2,970 in 2016, a more than 100 per cent jump. The number was 2,834 in 2015. The number of crimes in the state was more than Rajasthan and Haryana, which are "believed to be unsafe for women and children".

"At the same time it is imperative that the child who falls victim to such a crime should be provided with necessary immediate, short term and long term psychological and medical support. Such services need to be strengthened in our state. The support to the family is also crucial for long-term rehabilitation of the child, Kakoty said.

Welcoming the Centre's ordinance for strengthening the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, the network urged the state government to strengthen the process of dealing with such incidents on a fast-track basis.

CRIME IN NUMBERS

2015

Kidnapping/kidnapping for marriage: 634
Sexual offence: 145
Child marriage: 14

2016

Kidnapping/kidnapping for marriage: 2,970
Sexual offence: 821
Child marriage: 23