Imphal, July 16: A one-day media consultation on child rights issues in Manipur was held at Manipur Press Club, Major Khul here today.

The event was organised under the joint aegis of Coalition on Children's Rights to Protection, Manipur and Imphal Free Press.

Participating in the panel discussion of the morning session as resource persons, Urikhinbam Nobokishore of CSD observed that failure of ensuring and protecting the rights of the children in Manipur is the failure of the State Government.

MACR convenor Montu Ahanthem contended that the issue of child trafficking, child labour and recruitment of children as armed soldiers by militants is the manifestation of the larger issue of prolonged imposition of AFSPA in Manipur.

Chitra Ahanthem of Imphal Free Press said that ensuring child rights in Manipur has become very crucial issue today and recruitment child soldiers would only give a whole new dimension to the problem of armed conflict in the State.

In the afternoon session, Editor of Ereibak Irengbam Arun and Correspondent of The Statesman Yumnam Rupachandra spoke as resource persons.

They observed that there is the need for going more deeper into the event reporting of the issues in Manipur by the media.

Suggesting the roles that the NGOs could played in this regard, they also stressed on the need for close relation between media and the NGOs.

Editor of Imphal Free Press Pradeep Phanjoubam and Satya Gopal of CRY, Kolkata respectively moderated the two sessions of the consultation.

A film on the theme of child rights was also screened at the occasion.