Nagaland launches Child Rights Ambassador prog

Students and officials with guests during the launching of Child Rights Ambassador programme in Kohima at Hotel Japfü on November 14. 

Empowering students to take action for children’s rights 

Kohima, November 14 (MExN): On the occasion of the Children’s Day, Gregory Thejawelie, the Deputy Commissioner, Kohima officially kickoff Child Rights Ambassador programme in Kohima initiated by the Child Protection Services, Department of Social Welfare, Nagaland at Hotel Japfü.  

Child Rights Ambassador programme is open to all the schools and students. The Department will approach the schools, once the school agrees to be a part of this programme they may assign students as Child Rights Ambassadors. 

“The Ambassadors will be also given badges to ensure that people recognize them with ease. The children and students who have volunteered as a Child Rights Ambassadors will have three main roles to play: Firstly, they will tell others about children’s rights; tell others about Child protection mechanism available in our state; and be the voice for their fellow students,” stated a press release received here. 

DC Kohima Gregory Thejawelie at the onset appreciated the initiative of the Department and emphasized on the importance of children and their rights. He elaborated on various legal provisions, policies, government schemes and programmes for the education, health, nutrition and welfare of the children. 

Quoting the First Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, “The children of today will make the India of tomorrow. The way we bring them up will determine the future of the country,” he stated that children are the future of India and therefore should be protected from all harms and danger.  “As most of the children are enrolled in schools, school becomes a very important stakeholder for children,” he added.  

Chubainla Jamir, Society Director, Child Protection Services Nagaland, highlighted that every year Child Protection Services Nagaland celebrates Child Rights Week from November 14-20 by organizing weeklong programme to promote children’s rights in the State.  This year the Child Protection Services Nagaland has initiated Child Rights Ambassadors programme for schools which will be launched in all the eleven districts, she added. 

Child Rights Ambassadors is a programme that aims to promote children’s rights in schools. Child Protection Services (CPS) Nagaland believes that abuse and violence against children can be brought to an end and even prevented if right intervention is made at the right time. Chubainla, emphasized that the programme will provide a platform upon which the children will be given an opportunity to be ambassadors for their rights, to empower themselves to speak out on the issues that effects them. Children from schools will be trained and empowered so that they can in turn educate their peers on the rights of the children especially in their schools.  

Povezo Puro, District Child Protection Officer Kohima in his closing note thanked the Deputy Commissioner Kohima for his support for the programme.