INDIA. PROPOSAL- DEATH FOR COERCING KIDS INTO ILLEGAL ACTS

July 19, 2007: troubled by atrocities against children that are increasing rapidly, the Indian Ministry for Women and Child Development (WCD) proposed the death penalty for offenders who force children into acting as couriers for drugs, begging and human trafficking.
WCD minister Renuka Chowdhury said, "If any man is found misusing a child for trafficking drugs, he should be liable for capital punishment." Organisations working with children in conflict with law, however, point out that increasing the punishment to death penalty can make prosecution difficult. "In rape cases, capital punishment is not considered advisable because there is danger that the victim will be killed. So also in cases where children are concerned, there is always a possibility that the accused will use everything in their power to intimidate the child, maim him or her or even kill to destroy evidence," a social activist said. (Sources: Times Of India, 19/07/2007)