Empowering Stakeholders: Training Program on Child Protection

Empowering Stakeholders: Training Program on Child Protection

Union Territory Child Protection Society (UTCPS), under the Department of Social Welfare, Women & Child Development, Chandigarh Administration, recently organized a comprehensive 03 Day Training and Capacity Building Program. The event, held from February 28th to March 1st, 2024, at the U.T. Guest House in Sector -6, Chandigarh, focused on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012 and addressed various issues related to child sexual abuse.

Aim and Collaboration

The training program, organized in collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) under its project SAMVAD, received support from the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India. The primary goal was to strengthen and implement the mandate of children’s protection and welfare issues nationwide.

Inauguration and Participants

The program was inaugurated in the esteemed presence of Mrs. Palika Arora, Member Secretary, UTCPS-cum-Director Social Welfare, Women & Child Development, Chandigarh Administration. Other notable attendees included Ms. Shipra Bansal, Chairperson of the Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR); Ms. Sita Devi, DSP Women & Child Support Unit; Ms. Bisman Ahuja, Program Manager; and Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). Representatives from the Juvenile Justice Board, along with project officers from SAMVAD, also participated.

Key Highlights and Objectives

Mrs. Palika Arora emphasized the crucial role of each stakeholder in ensuring the welfare of children and the effective implementation of the POCSO Act. The training sessions focused on understanding the dynamics of child sexual abuse, including the psycho-social perspective, and highlighted the importance of recognizing children’s experiences and trauma.

Target Audience and Curriculum

Approximately 45 participants attended the multi-stakeholder training, including Special Juvenile Police Officers, members of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and staff from the District Child Protection Unit and Child Helpline-1098. The first day of training delved into understanding how children perceive and internalize abuse and trauma experiences, along with strategies for responding to their fears and confusion with acceptance and non-judgmental attitudes.

Future Focus

The remaining two days of the program will cover an introduction to Child Sexual Abuse legislation, child witness competencies, and methods for eliciting a child’s statement. The overarching goal is to enhance the skills of primary stakeholders, providing them with in-depth knowledge to acknowledge children’s emotions, navigate the adversarial system, and effectively implement key provisions of the POCSO Act.

This training program signifies a proactive approach towards addressing child protection issues and underscores the commitment of stakeholders towards safeguarding the rights and well-being of children. Through collaboration, education, and skill-building, initiatives like these contribute significantly to creating safer environments for children across the nation.

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