An awareness rally on child rights and prevention of sexual crimes against children was flagged off by Jayashree Muralidharan, Collector, at R.C. Higher Secondary School, Tiruchi, on Thursday.
More than 500 students from R.C. Higher Secondary School, Holy Redeemer Girls HSS , Ponnaiah HSS , Khajamian HSS , Periyar Maniammai Girls HSS , Holy Cross HSS and others participated in the rally.
Placard-carrying students raised slogans on child rights at the rally that passed through railway junction and Central Bus Stand, and concluded at St.Johns Vestry Anglo Indian HSS.
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Ms.Muralidharan said that sexual crimes against children are punishable offences. “Not only girls, even boys are susceptible to sexual assault. Most cases of child sexual abuse involves close relatives of the child or parent’s friends. Therefore, it is imperative that parents must educate their children about the differences between right touch and wrong touch,” she said. “Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, is the first law that’s aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse. This law aims to protect children below 18 years of age from rape and physical harm of any kind,” she added.
R.Devika, district child protection officer, and K.Selvakumar, district chief education officer, took part.