Andhra Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (APSLSA) Member Secretary V.R.K. Krupa Sagar has appealed to teachers, non-governmental organisations and advocates to respond to child abuse cases and steps for prevention of such incidents.
Mr. Krupa Sagar participated in a State-level consultation on ‘Child Abuse Prevention and Response in Schools and the Community’, jointly organised by Child Rights Advocacy Foundation (CRAF) and World Vision India, here on Thursday.
Addressing the District Child Protection Officers (DCPOs), Crime Investigation Department (CID ) officials, teachers, Women Development and Child Welfare (WD&CW) department personnel and the representatives of various NGOs, he said teachers, NGOs, Police and the DCPOs should respond to the child abuse cases immediately, create awareness and take steps to prevent them.
“Absence of response will not only cause humiliation and depression to the victims, but also increase the crime”, Mr. Sagar said and appealed to the officials concerned to sensitise minors on their rights.
Legal awareness
Praising CRAF, World Vision and other NGOs for enlightening students on child rights and organising various programmes against child marriages, Mr. Sagar assured of all support from APSLSA in creating legal awareness among the children.
WD&CW Assistant Director M. Vijaya Lakshmi said that NGOs and government departments were one family and should work together to stop minor abuse, harassment, sexual assault and violence against children.
AP in third place
World Vision India senior manager Tabitha Francis said about 53% of the children were subjected to abuse in India and Andhra Pradesh was in third place in child abuse.
Mr. Krupa Sagar along with other participants released the study report prepared by World Vision India and CESS on child abuse on the occasion.
