National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Chairperson Stuti Kacker has said that 50 per cent of children are being subjected to harassment and abuse in some way or the other and appealed to the people to treat them with love and affection.
“If we do not treat our children properly, why people of other countries take care of our children? Human traffickers are taking our children only for abuse and prostitution. There is a need to change the attitude of every person towards children, particularly who are from broken and disturbed families,” Ms. Kacker said.
Participating in the one-day State-level workshop on ‘Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015, organised by AP State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) here on Wednesday, the NCPCR Chairperson expressed concern over rise in kidnaps, sexual harassment, attacks, suicides and abuse on children.
Child rights are being violated and from tender age they were sexually harassed, mentally tortured and ill-treated at their houses, educational institutions, hostels and at work places. In some cases, the trauma they suffered were haunting the victims and they remain disturbed all through their life, she said.
Stress on speedy trial
“We observed that nearly 90 per cent of the boys are abused at different places. Officials and child rights committees often listen to problems of girls only. Boys, who were sent to observation homes, are exposed to sexual abuse and other bad habits. Police, judicial officers, advocates and child rights bodies should expedite the cases on juveniles and release them from homes,” the Chairperson said.
“NCPCR is developing a manual on how to deal with children at different homes. The Ministry of Women and Child Welfare is making efforts to provide infrastructure and other facilities at homes under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR),” Ms. Kacker said.
Vijayawada Sub-Collector G. Srujana, Women Development and Child Welfare Joint Director K. Shyama Sundari, Regional Joint Director R. Suez, Krishna District Project Director K. Krishna Kumari, SCPCR in-charge Chairman S. Balaraju, member S. Muralidhar Reddy, and others spoke.
Officials of various departments spoke on ‘Role of Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPUs) in implementing provisions under JJ Act’, ‘Institutional care services under Integrated Child Protection Scheme’, ‘Role of stakeholders towards children in conflict with law and who are in need of care and protection, rescue and rehabilitation of children at homes and other topics.
SJPU officers, officers from Juvenile Welfare Department and District Child Protection Units across the State participated.
