False Reports or Complaints for Child Sexual Abuse

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Portfolio Keyphrase: False reports or complaints about child sexual abuse

Tags: Abuse, Violence, Crime, Children, Explainer

[Trigger Warning: The following content contains information on sexual and physical violence which some readers may find disturbing.]

It is illegal to falsely complain about child sexual abuse or provide false information against another person alleging that they have sexually abused a child if they haven’t done so. The punishment for doing this is jail time of one year and/or a fine¹.

If the false complaint or false information is made with the intention to humiliate, extort, threaten, blackmail, or defame someone, the complainant can be punished with either a jail time of 6 months and/or a fine².

However, if a child makes a false complaint or provides false information, the child cannot be punished³.

Section 22(3), The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.[↩]
Section 22(1), The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.[↩]
Section 22(2), The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.[↩]

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