Awareness programme held on protection of children from sexual offences in Meghalaya

A REPORTER

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority, in collaboration with the District Legal Services Authority, East Khasi Hills District and District Child Protection Unit, East Khasi Hills District organized an awareness programme on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (2012) and Child Marriage on the occasion of 'Pan India Awareness and Outreach Programme as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' on Friday at Nongkrem village, East Khasi Hills District.

Justice W. Diengdoh, Judge, High Court of Meghalaya, was the chief guest for the programme. The resource persons for the orientation programme were Daphira Sohtun (MJS), Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, East Khasi Hills District; Matti L. Warjri, District Child Protection Officer, District Child Protection Unit, East Khasi Hills District L. Kharjana, SI, Police Department and Daisily Thangkhiew, Legal Aid Counsel, DLSA, Shillong.

The topics covered during the programme were Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (2012), Child Marriage, Role of Child Welfare Committee and District Child Protection Officer in the rehabilitation of child in conflict with law and child in need of care and protection; Police and Public Relation in curbing crime against children.

During the programme, the chief guest spoke on the principles on which the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (2012) was enacted, role of the society and parents in particular in creating awareness of the provisions of the Act, important provisions of Protection of Child Marriage Act (2006), definition of child as per the Act meaning 21 for males and 18 for females.

The role of Legal Services Institutions in securing justice to the marginalized sections of the society was stressed upon. Other activities conducted during the programme was distribution of pamphlets, displaying of video clips related to free legal aid, access to justice, child abuse/offences, FIR, to the public.

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