Peren, June 12 (MExN): The District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) of Peren organized a one day sensitization programme with main focus on Child Trafficking and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 in Peren Town today.
The attendees were the Juvenile Justice Board, Child Welfare Committee, Special Juvenile Police Unit, ward leaders, women, youth, and student organisations, and Anganwadi workers etc.
The main objective of the programme, according to a press release from District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Peren, Ruzonuo Rita Rutsa, was to sensitize the stakeholders and public leaders about the prevailing situation of child trafficking in Peren district as the district reported the highest child trafficking cases in the State. It also aimed to connect law with the rural people so that the rural children can become beneficiaries of the various schemes available under Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) provided by the Ministry of Woman and Child Development.
The resource persons were Neinguvotuo Krose, Asungbe (Legal cum Probation Officer) and Veni Vese, SDPO Peren. They highlighted that missing and trafficked children constitute a complex phenomenon spanning a range of possibilities from children who may have intentionally decided to move away to those who have been forcibly abducted, the release said. However, they added, all of them run the risk of slipping into increasingly fragile, abusive and disempowering situations. For many, this turns into a harrowing reality with grave implications for their physical, psychosocial health and wellbeing, it was stated.
Regarding the POCSO Act 2012, the resource person concerned informed that the Act was passed in 2012 and implemented in 2013. “It is a comprehensive Act and special law for the protection of children from sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography. This act provides child friendly mechanism at any stages of judicial proceedings,” it was highlighted.
Under the Act, verbal report can be made and it is police’s responsibility to record in writing and also read over to the informant after recording. SJPU shall report the matter to the CWC and Special Court within 24 hours. The Act also states that statements of the child shall be recorded at the residence of the child or at the place of the choice of the child by a woman police as far as practicable.
Police shall not be in uniform while recording or interviewing child statements. Confidentiality of the child shall be maintained by the authority or agency. Meanwhile, the evidence of the child shall be recorded within 30 days from the date of the commission of an offence. Trial, to be conducted in camera, shall be completed within 1 year from the date of taking cognizance of the offence.
Medical Examination: In case the victim is a girl child, the Medical Examination (ME) shall be conducted by a woman doctor. The ME shall be conducted in the presence of the parent of the child or any other in whom the child has trust and confidence. Failure to report a case is punishable and false complaint or false information is also punishable under POCSO. Special Court is set up in every district to give speedy trial in the case of POCSO.
Earlier, keynote address was delivered by Z. Nyusietho Nyuthe, Director, State Child Protection Society (SCPS), who highlighted about the delivery structures set up in the districts like District Child Protection Unit, Juvenile Justice Board, Child Welfare Committee and Special Juvenile Police Unit. He also shared about the schemes available for the children in conflict with laws and children in need of care and protection under DCPU such as sponsorship, adoption, after-care and foster care etc.
