NT Reporter | Panaji
Raising concern over incidents where children were allegedly sexually abused in hotels by unrelated adults, the NGO Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN-Goa) has urged Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte to take strict action against hotel owners who allow such access, in violation of the Goa Childrenās Act, 2003.
In a letter to Khaunte, SCAN-Goa coordinator Emidio Pinho stated, āWe have come across many such cases wherein children were abused in hotels, as these hotels are providing access to rooms or premises where adults are engaging in activities that involve the abuse and exploitation of children.ā
The NGO cited Section 8(10) of the Goa Childrenās Act, 2003, which prohibits any child from entering a hotel room unless accompanied by family, relatives, or a person related by blood. Exceptions apply only to reasonable cases such as school groups with teachers or children staying with friendsā families.
SCAN has demanded the Tourism Departmentās intervention to ensure child protection protocols are followed. These include awareness drives for the hospitality sector, mandating display of posters promoting child safety, closure of premises found involved in such offences, and initiating legal action against those responsible, including hotel owners and others granting room access.
Referring to a recent incident in Calangute where three minors were sexually abused, SCAN stated, āThe sexual abuse occurred after two rooms were provided to adults, accompanied by three minor girls aged 11, 13, and 15. These girls were then sexually abused by the two adults. Similarly, a hotel premise was also used in Porvorim where one of the girls was sexually abused.ā
SCAN said that such conduct ānot only endangers the lives and well-being of vulnerable children but also severely undermines the safety and moral fabric of our community. It is imperative that strict action is taken as per law against the owners who deliberately or negligently facilitate such heinous acts by providing access to their properties.ā
