Child abuse and trafficking remain pressing human rights challenges in India, despite the existence of a comprehensive legal and institutional framework aimed at prevention, protection, and prosecution. This study examines the role of state mechanisms and judicial mandates in addressing these issues, focusing on the implementation and efficacy of key legislations such as the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Juvenile Justice Act, and relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code. Through a review of landmark judicial decisions, government policies, and national action plans, the paper evaluates systemic gaps, enforcement challenges, and best practices. Special attention is given to inter-agency coordination, victim rehabilitation, child protection services, and the role of judiciary-led interventions in strengthening child rights. The findings suggest that while legislative frameworks are robust, their success hinges on effective implementation, capacity-building, and community-based vigilance. The paper concludes with policy recommendations to create a more resilient and child-centric justice system in India.

Post-violence transitions, characterized by the aftermath of mass atrocities, civil wars, or repressive regimes, present complex challenges for societies striving to rebuild and establish sustainable peace. While fields like human rights, transitional justice, and memory studies have extensively engaged with these processes, the explicit role and contributions of criminology have often remained at the periphery. This article critically explores the multifaceted intersections between criminology and the dynamics of post-violence transitions, specifically focusing on human rights, grassroots activism, transitional justice mechanisms, and collective memory. We argue that criminology offers invaluable theoretical and analytical tools—such as insights into perpetration, victimology, state crime, and social control—that can significantly enrich the understanding and effectiveness of transitional processes. Conversely, the unique contexts of post-violence societies expand criminology's traditional scope, pushing it to address state-sponsored violence, collective trauma, and the complexities of accountability beyond conventional crime. By synthesizing existing scholarship, this paper demonstrates how an interdisciplinary criminological lens can deepen our understanding of justice "from below," the performance of transitional justice, the role of memory in shaping justice demands, and ultimately, contribute to more holistic and transformative approaches to peacebuilding and reconciliation.