District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) Peren, under Department of Social Welfare, conducted an awareness programme from April 22 to 25 at Tening, Nsong and Peren towns on protection of children from sexual offence, child rights and street to school campaign with Legal cum Probation Officers Neinguvotuo Krose and Asungbe and ICPS programme manager Raitale Zeliang as resource persons.
During the programme, resource persons highlighted that Peren district had reported highest number of child trafficking in the State. Resource persons said 29 children were rescued from Andra Pradesh in 2010, while 5 children were rescued from Kolkota in 2013 and 8 children rescued from Jaipur in 2013 respectively.
The main purpose of conducting campaign “from street to school” was to ensure objective of the integrated child protection scheme and that the activities for street children were appropriately implemented.
Resource persons also mentioned that children living on and off the street should be provided with Aadhar card and enrolled in schools. They said till date 19 street children had been enrolled in formal education in the state.
Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act is a comprehensive and special law to provide protection of children from the offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography, while safeguarding the interest of the child at every stage of judicial proceedings by incorporating child friendly mechanism for reporting, recording evidence, investigation and speedy trial of offences through a designated Special Court.
The child protection mechanism like District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) Observation Home and Village Level Child Protection Committee (VLCPC) have been set up in the district for contributing the well being of the children in difficult circumstances as well as bring them back to the social mainstream of life.
Resource persons further urged the people of Peren to take advantage of these mechanisms for the protection of children.
The programme was attended by international delegates (USA), district administration, police, Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), Child Welfare Committee (CWC), village council chairmen, church leaders, students leaders, women leaders and youth leaders.