Dimapur, February 21 (MExN): The Dimapur District Legal Services Authority (DDLSA) in collaboration with Women Cell, Dimapur, organized legal awareness programme on February 20 at Rhododendron Hall, Chumukedima.
Speaking at the programme, Akum Lam, ACP ‘D’ division, Dimapur expressed the need for police personnel to be updated with the new laws and amendment related to child and women rights. It is the duty of the law enforcing agency to implement laws like the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 (JJA) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO), he stated.
Panel Lawyer, DDLSA, Zacharia Tetseo, spoke on POCSO Act and stressed on the increasing number of child sexual abuse in our society, most of which remain silent. Stating that child sexual offenders thrive on this silence, Tetseo asserted that if anyone has an apprehension that an offence is likely to be committed or has knowledge of child abuse offence, the individual is duty bound to report such information to the police.
Since Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) did not specifically provide provision for sexual offence against children, particularly a male child, POCSO brought male child within its ambit and strict laws have been made to safeguard the welfare of children, Tetseo stated. He further maintained that legislation by itself is not enough, the law enforcing agencies and service providers require proper training and experience to prevent child sexual abuses.
Other Panel Lawyers - Glory Sema, Esther K. Aye, and Limasenla Longkumer - spoke on various legislation and Acts covering JJA, The Immoral Traffic (prevention) Act, 1956, Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, importance of Human Rights, duties of law enforcing agencies not to misuse the power of arrest and detention. During the interaction, queries were put up relating to Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPU) and absence of paid social worker in police stations.
The programme, attended by SJPU representatives from all police stations, zonal traffic personnel and Dimapur women cell police personnel, was chaired by NK Keny, Para Legal Volunteer (PLV), DDLSA. Vote of thanks was delivered by Bem Thomsong, Officer-in- Charge, Women Cell, Dimapur.
