Additional DG of PIB, Bhopal PJ Sudhakar said that protection of children from sexual violence is the need of the hour.
He was speaking at the media workshop on POSCO Act 2012 for media and AIR Professionals at IIFM here on Friday. He further said that Juvenile Justice Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POSCO), 2012 are the landmark legislations for protection of child rights. Media plays a vital role in protection of human rights of children. Both the print and electronic media, especially All India Radio and Television have undertaken the social responsibility of creating awareness about the protection of rights of the children. There is an inseparable relationship between the women’s rights and child rights, he added.
He said that all human rights are children’s rights. After Independence there was a slow but steady appreciation about child concern. But Durgabai Deshmukh made the first attempt in the fifties and was instrumental in the setting up of the Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB).
Speaking on the occasion, KN Krishnakumar, faculty of IIFM, Bhopal said that media professionals are ambassadors of child rights. Focusing on the need for conducive environment at home, school and at neighbourhoods, he stated that there is a need for creating awareness about the rights of children in the society. Workshop Director Amit Duggal of National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development, Indore explained the objectives of the media workshop.
He informed that this national institute is conducting training programmes and undertaking research and evaluation studies on women and child development. Speaking on the occasion, senior journalist Madhukar Dwivedi opined that media should have a self regulatory mechanism and must be careful in reporting the violation of rights of children. He also said that media should follow the provisions made in POSCO Act, 2012.