Training programme for community leaders on 'Human Trafficking & Child Protection System' held at Moreh
Source: The Sangai Express
Tengnoupal, April 26 2019:
FXB India Suraksha in association with Centre for Development Activities (CDAC) organized a one day awareness programme for different community leaders on human trafficking and strengthening child protection activities in Moreh at conference hall of Meitei Council Office Moreh, today.
The main objective of the programme was to bring together community leaders representing different communities such as Meitei, Tamil, Punjabi etc residing in Moreh and discuss on the major role the leaders play in strengthening mechanisms to ensure protection and safety of the children as well as to combat trafficking of persons from the border region.
Altogether, 32 representatives have participated in the training programme.
The programme was conducted as part of project 'Mukti', an Anti-Trafficking initiative to combat human trafficking and child sexual abuse in Manipur implemented with the support of ECPAT Luxembourg since 2015 in Imphal and Ukhrul.
The day long training programme started with keynote by Satya Prakash, programme manager, FXB India Suraksha, introducing the purpose and objective of the training programme.
He stressed upon the fact that Moreh due to its geo-political position and sharing border with Myanmar is vulnerable to trafficking and smuggling of persons.
It may be mentioned that the recent case, where around 55 Nepalese women and men were rescued in Moreh in a suspected case of trafficking in the month of February, is very alarming.
Adding his thoughts to the inaugural session, Moirangthem Sushilkumar, founder Centre for Development Activities (CDAC), Wangjing highlighted the important role each community can play in combating human trafficking and child sexual abuse in the district.
He also said that each community are important stakeholders and it is their prime duty to actively involve in such initiative to protect the children.
Taking the programme forward, Sunil Meitei, project officer, FXB India Suraksha initiated the session discussing about abuses against children with special emphasis on child sexual abuse.
He stressed on the need for ensuring a protective environment for children through different rings of responsibilities at different levels including family, community, institutional and national level.
He also spoke on different ways of action to be taken whenever there is any kind of emergency situation like the requirement of immediate action.
He also went on to discuss the various provisions under Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) which criminalizes any form of abuse such as uncomfortable touch, penetrative, showing pornographic content, passing sexually abusive comments etc, as sexual offences.
Addressing the question put forward by the participants regarding the laws and policies available in the country to address child protection, Satya Prakash, programme manager, FXB India Suraksha explained the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 which is the strongest law available for the complete welfare of children.
He also urged the community leaders to come together to reach out to larger number of population and make them aware on the issue while encouraging them to report any kind of abuse happen to their children adding that it should be addressed with utmost care and sensitivity.
Pranjita Borah, programme officer, FXB India Suraksha, in her session spoke about human trafficking, vulnerability of persons, modus operandi of traffickers and important role that community members can play in preventing and combating trafficking.
A movie titled "Annie" was also screened for better understanding of the social crime.
A similar training programme was conducted with the community members and religious leaders representing 12 units of Hill Tribal Council, Moreh at the Conference Hall, HTC Office, Moreh, on April 24 which was attended by 55 persons.
A group activity was also conducted with the participants where they were asked to share their views on what role they would play as community members in strengthening child protection systems in their own communities, the support they would need from Government and other institutions.
Good suggestions and recommendations were laid forward during the activity.
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