Panaji: The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for rehabilitation of children in conflict with law under the juvenile justice system. The SOPs are expected to help provide opportunities to such children to reintegrate with society, institutional care, after-care services, foster care and sponsorship.
One of the main objectives behind introducing the SOP is reducing jail time for juvenile offenders while protecting children from violence, abuse and exploitation. It has been designed as a useful guide for stakeholders including child care institutions, Juvenile Justice Boards and Children’s Courts, National and State child rights commissions, governments and police.
Dr. Sushma Kirtani, Chairperson, Goa State Child Rights Commission said on Thursday that the commission is aware of the SoPs, and have invited stakeholders to share their views on the proposed rules under the Justice Juvenile Act, 2016.
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She said that in the absence of the SOP, State institutions like Apna Ghar were not able to handle the rehabilitation of the children correctly, often due to constraints of space, staff, infrastructure and logistics. These are important especially for girl children, who cannot be allowed to be mixed with male children or adults.
The ministry consulted experts, child rights activists and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in developing the SOP. The SOP has been uploaded on the WCD ministry website and is open to comments.