Consultation on child rights held
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 30 2018:
Manipur Peace and Integrity (MAPI) Council and Nongpok Leingak Apunba Nupi Lup (NLANL) organized a one-day consultation on "Child Rights with Special Focus on Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act, 2012 & JJ Act, 2015" at the conference hall of MVHA, Ningthem Pukhri Mapal, Imphal East.
MAPI Council president N Bimol Meetei, NLANL president Y Mema Leima, Child Welfare Committee(CWC), Imphal West Chairperson Th Rajkeshor Singh and Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights Member K Pradipkumar graced the function as presidium members.
Rajkeshor, who spoken on the topic "An overview on POCSO Act 2012 and impact and challenges in the society" as a resource person, observed that there is a growing need for creating awareness to the citizens about the various Acts and laws enacted by the Parliament for protection of child rights as crimes against children are increasing in the State and elsewhere in India.
He further pointed out that lack of awareness and understanding on the existing laws and Acts pertaining to child rights, such as JJ Act and POCSO Act among other factors have resulted to increase in the number of crime - committed against children besides posing as a big hindrance in the effort to address the issue.
Informing that there is only one reported case of sexual offence committed against male child in the State, he opined that there may be several such unreported cases in the State.
He maintained that criminals who commit crimes against children often happen to be the near and dear ones of victims and added that POCSO has many stringent provisions to deal and punish the offenders.
Even the quantum of punishment under POCSO Act has become more stringent from before with the amendment in the Act recently, he added.