‘TACKLE ISSUE OF CHILD RIGHTS NOW’

Training conducted for Juvenile Justice Board Nagaland  

KOHIMA, AUGUST 25 (MExN): The State Child Protection Society Nagaland in collaboration with the Kohima District Legal Services Authority (KDLSA) held a one day training for the Juvenile Justice Board Nagaland at Mount Tabor Retreat House, Kohima on August 23.  

During the inaugural session, Z Nyusietho Nyuthe, Joint Secretary, Social Welfare & Society Director, SCPS – N delivered the welcome address. Nyuthe addressed the participants by giving a brief introduction about the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), a centrally sponsored scheme which aims at building a protective environment for children in difficult circumstances, as well as other vulnerable children.  

He further went onto say that, the aims of ICPS is not only to create environment for protection for all children but also to recognize those children who needs special attention and support. Accordingly, interventions within the Schemes focus on Children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law. It is based on cardinal principles of “Protection of Child Rights” and “Best interest of the Child”.  

Mezivolu T. Therieh, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kohima & Secretary, KDLSA spoke on the topics “Child Rights” and “Roles & Responsibilities of JJB”. Therieh, emphasized that child issues if not tackled now, the future of those children would be bleak.

She said that children are the most vulnerable group in society and if they are not protected from such circumstances the future of the nation is in jeopardy. Violence against children is on rise and as per the records, in the year 2015 the crime against the children rose upto 52.5% high. As India is a s

She also spoke on the Constitutional provisions which included Article, 14, 15, 21 & 23, and stressed on working together to achieve what has been implemented.  

While speaking on the roles and responsibilities of the Juvenile Justice Board, she said that before dealing with the cases pertaining to children, one has to study the cases very cautiously and deal with the juveniles with care. She also spoke about the biopsychosocial aspects and the rehabilitation and social re-interrogation of the child.  

The responsibilities of the JJB was to ensure that juvenile are not subjected to ill treatment, they are granted free legal aid and right to counsel, probationary officer are informed by the police officer, etc. Therieh further stressed on the functions of the JJB, what police officer has to do after apprehending the juvenile and the post production process by the JJB.  

Raitale Zeliang, Programme Manager SCPS-N, presented the overview of the ICPS. During her presentation, she said that the main purpose of ICPS is to bring multiple existing child protection schemes of the Ministry under one comprehensive umbrella, and integrate additional interventions for protecting children and preventing harm.  

She also said that child protection is a primary responsibility of the family and should be supported by the community, civil society and government. She highlighted about the strengthening of the Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA), State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) and advised that all adoption should be done through proper legal procedure.  

Esther Aye, Legal Aid Counsel-cum-Trainer, Nagaland State Legal Services Authority, spoke on the topic, “Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 (JJA)”. In her presentation she said that JJA was an act to consolidate and amend the law relating to children alleged and found to be in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection by catering to their basic needs through proper care, protection, development, treatment, social reintegration, by adopting a child-friendly approach in the adjudication and disposal of matters in the best interest of children and for their rehabilitation through processes provided, and institutions and body established.  

Aye also spoke on the general principles which are to be followed in administration of the Act, where any child shall be presumed to be innocent of any mala fide or criminal intent upto the age of eighteen years.  

Satahi Shujoh, Program Manager SCPS-N, spoke on the Convergence, Coordination of JJB with other Stake-holders & File Management. In his presentation, he said that one of the most important aspects of the ICPS was to create a space wherein statutory bodies under the JJAct (CWCs & JJBs), Central and state Departments of Women and Child Development, Judiciary, etc can all work together to create a safe environment for children.  

He also said that ICPS envisages a strong partnership and integrated effort between all stakeholders impacting the lives of children towards a future where there would be a minimal number or no children in need of care and protection.