A child told me about sexual touching
Believe the child, secure immediate safety, record only their spontaneous words and seek child-protection help. Do not interrogate, blame, confront the suspected person or promise secrecy you cannot keep.
On this page
What this situation can include
- A child may use indirect words, disclose only part, tell through play or writing, retract after family pressure, or disclose long after the event. Calm attention matters more than making the account complete.
- Sexual touching can involve contact with private parts, making a child touch someone, penetration, sexualised rubbing or kissing, showing sexual material, photographing a child sexually, or online requests that lead to contact offences.
- The suspected person may be known, trusted, related, close in age, or in authority. Do not dismiss the disclosure because the child returned to them, accepted gifts, did not shout, or first told a different story.
What this may mean
POCSO defines a child as any person below 18. It contains offences, mandatory reporting provisions and child-friendly rules for recording, medical examination and court processes.
A caregiver should report to the Special Juvenile Police Unit or local police and can call Child Helpline 1098 for protection coordination. Knowingly failing to report can have legal consequences, subject to the Act's provisions.
The adult's role is to protect and report, not to investigate. Repeated or leading questions can distress the child and affect later accounts.
If safety may be urgent
- Separate the child from the suspected person without arranging a confrontation. Ensure the suspected person cannot collect, call, message or privately reach the child.
- Call 112 for immediate danger or urgent medical need, and Child Helpline 1098 for child-protection support. Seek prompt healthcare for pain, bleeding, possible ingestion, recent assault or other health concerns.
- If sexual images may exist, do not ask the child or others to forward them. Record the account, username or URL without copying or circulating child sexual material.
Possible next steps
Respond in four sentences
Say: ‘Thank you for telling me. I believe you. This is not your fault. I will get help to keep you safe.’ Do not ask ‘why’ questions or express shock in front of the child.
Record, do not interview
As soon as practical, write the date, context and the child's exact spontaneous words. Note observable injuries or behaviour without interpretation. Do not ask the child to repeat the account for relatives or institutional managers.
Report and coordinate protection
Contact the Special Juvenile Police Unit or local police as POCSO requires and use 1098 for support. Tell professionals about disability, language, communication or safe-care needs.
Restore ordinary care
Keep safe routines, school, play and supportive relationships where possible. Do not punish the child by removing education, friends or all technology because another person caused harm.
What may happen after seeking help or reporting
- Police or the Special Juvenile Police Unit should arrange child-friendly recording and protection steps. The child may need a medical examination; the process should explain and respect lawful consent requirements.
- The Child Welfare Committee may become involved where care and protection are needed. A Special Court handles POCSO proceedings.
- Authorities may need to speak with the child, but caregivers can ask that legally required child-friendly protections, language access and disability accommodations are followed.
Important limits and cautions
- Do not promise to keep the disclosure secret; explain that only people needed to keep the child safe will be told. The child's identity must not be publicly disclosed.
- Do not conduct a body check, make the child demonstrate, secretly test the suspected person or organise a family settlement.
- Behavioural signs have many possible causes and do not prove abuse by themselves; a disclosure should still be protected and reported through the proper route.
Words a supporter can use
The first response to a child's disclosure
“Thank you for telling me. I believe you. What happened is not your fault, and you are not in trouble. I cannot keep this only between us because I need help to keep you safe, but I will tell only the people who need to help. You do not have to tell me everything again.”
What institutions must do
Protect, report and preserve education
- Remove access risk, follow POCSO reporting duties, preserve records, limit identity disclosure and avoid internal interrogation or forced confrontation.
- Maintain the child's education and support with the least restrictive safe adjustments.
Use child-friendly procedure
- Follow POCSO protections for reporting, recording, medical examination, support and privacy; arrange communication assistance where needed.
Treat urgent needs without blame
- Explain care in child-appropriate language, minimise repeated examination and document findings professionally.
Related issue guides
Sources and publication record
Reviewed and approved by the project team · Sources checked . Reviewed and approved by the project team against the official sources listed on this page. This is general information, not advice for an individual case.
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012India Code, Legislative Department
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023India Code, Legislative Department
- Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015India Code, Legislative Department
- Child Helpline 1098Ministry of Women and Child Development
- Emergency Response Support System 112Ministry of Home Affairs
- One Stop Centre schemeMinistry of Women and Child Development
- Free legal services and National Legal Aid Helpline 15100National Legal Services Authority