The District Administration and SANKALP – District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW), Tseminyu, in collaboration with the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Tseminyu successfully conducted block level sensitization programmes on Child Rights and Protection Laws on April 9 and 11 at Council Hall, Sendenyu and Chunlikha respectively.
Neivotuonuo Rutsa, LCPO, Tseminyu, elaborated on the importance of understanding child rights and protection laws. She highlighted a key legal principle: “Ignorance of facts may be excused, but ignorance of the law is no excuse.” She then provided an overview of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act,2015 Act and emphasized the crucial role of village leaders in identifying, reporting, and appropriately handling child-related issues in their communities, in alignment with legal procedures. Further, she emphasized the importance of Section 74 of the JJ Act, which strictly prohibits the disclosure of any information that could reveal the identity of a child-whether the child is a victim, witness, or accused. Additionally, she explained the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, highlighting its gender-neutral nature and its purpose of safeguarding all children under the age of 18 from sexual offences. Emphasizing the seriousness of such cases, she referred to a significant Supreme Court judgment, which clarifies that POCSO cases cannot be quashed, even if a compromise has been reached between the parties.
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Kvulo Kent, Project Coordinator, Child Helpline Tseminyu, highlighted the role of the 1098 helpline through videos and a live demonstration, detailing the support available for children facing abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
Kumari Victoria Kent, District Mission Coordinator, DHEW, spoke on Mission Shakti, a government initiative promoting women’s empowerment, and urged participants to disseminate information about the Women Helpline number.
Ruokuosetuo Tetso EAC Tseminyu and Zanilo Seb Chairman, Chunlikha Village lauded the initiative and called for more such community-based awareness programmes.
The events concluded with prayers and votes of thanks, marking a significant step towards strengthening child protection at the grassroots level.
