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 14^th 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.