SEMINAR ON PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT
Forming
a Child Safety Net requires webbing together different stake holders and the
general public and making them involve positively on the issues and challenges
that children face. The police have an all important role in this as the law enforcement
agency of the society. The knowledge regarding laws related to children can
empower them to take right action towards protection of children in the society.
The
present day Kerala society seems to be sick as there is an alarming rate of
child sexual abuse across the State and that too from their own family, friends
and teachers. The children who undergo much trauma in such a young age will
have to live his/her life through, facing consequences for which they are not
responsible in any way. In the past three months, Don Bosco CHILDLINE has dealt
with at least 15 cases of child sexual abuse. Lack of proper laws and laxity in
enforcement of law are important reasons for the same.
In
the wake of this drastic attitudinal change towards children, the Government of
India has enacted a new law for protecting children from sexual offences which came
into force on 14th November 2012 with stringent provisions for the
offenders. As knowledge of the act is essential for the law enforcement agency,
Trivandrum Don Bosco Veedu Society is intervening positively to spread
knowledge on the Act.
We
organized a seminar on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act for 65
Police officials of Trivandrum Rural District. All the SHOs and ASIs of the
police stations were present. The
seminar started at 9.30 AM on 26-03-2013. Fr. Thomas P D, Director Trivandrum
Don Bosco Veedu Society, HLK & MCS, and CHILDINE gave an introduction about
Don Bosco Veedu Society and welcomed Shri. A.J. Thomaskutty IPS, District
Police Chief, the chief guest, Fr. Philip Parakatt, the resource person and
participants.
In the inaugural address the District
Police Chief mentioned that those who go against the law should also be made to
rethink their activities and should be brought to the main stream and this
training should be treated as a training of trainers, so that the awareness on
the act can be spread to all.
Fr.
Philip then presented the different provisions of the act and also enlightened the
participants on Juvenile Justice act and the different mechanisms which need t
be set up to implement the same. The seminar was an eye opener for the police
officials who were enlightened to protect and uphold child rights and protect
children from sexual abuse.
Mr. Jobi Kondoor, the State
Coordinator of Homelink and Missing Child Search Programme, Kerala proposed the
Vote of thanks. He requested all the help from the side of the police to work
for the children in need of care and protection.
