Childline Anantnag organised a workshop on Understanding & prevention of child sexual abuse on 26th March 2019

Childline Anantnag under the aegis of Humanity Welfare organisation Helpline NGO organised a workshop under them Understanding & prevention of child sexual abuse.

The participants of the programme were:
ICDS workers of Bijbehara project
Teachers of Zone Bijbehara
Juvenile police officers of Bijbehara and Srigufwara
District child protection unit officers under ICPS
Childline Anantnag team
Community health office team Bijbehara
The programme was moderated by social activist Iqra Jan and coordinator Childline Shujat Farhan.

Director Childline Anantnag Javed Ahmad Tak explained the aims and objectives of programme. In his address he said that time has come to start positive parenting and have full vigil on our own children and children under our custodians during duty hours as teacher, ICDS worker or any other community worker, so that we know how safe the children in our families and institutions are. Less number of abuse cases are reported and hence no action is taken against perpetrator. The children of present date are highly vulnerable and soft targets of sexual abuse that ultimately leads them towards drug addiction, Tak added. He said that we should talk to our children regarding possible abuses and look seriously into the matter if our children show behavioural changes.

The trainer of the event advocate Iqra gave detailed introduction of child sexual abuse and data in the country. She said around one lakh child sexual abuses have been reported in country and lakhs of cases go unreported. She gave awareness about POCSO Act and the punishments fixed for offenders under the Act. We should trust in our children and give them full honour as adults are given in families, communities and institutions, she added.

Ms. Rafia Khaki, secretary District legal services Authority Anantnag was the chief guest on the occasion. She said that legal services authorities have been created to safeguard the rights of all weaker sections including women and children. She gave detailed awareness about the cases heard in different courts regarding child sexual abuse and the perpetrators involved. We have tp be cautious citizens and it is not only our moral but legal duty to report child sexual abuses and facilitate to book the culprits, Secretary DLSA added.

Mr Nazarul Islam team member Childline gave introduction and awareness about working of childline. He said just dialing 1098 toll free number one can rescue children from various types of problems in community. Earlier we used to skip reporting because of filing FIR and utilising police services but now we can refer the cases to childline on its toll free number of childline and it will be duty of childline then to follow the case after recording.

Ms Razia counsellor childline Anantnag gave vote of thanks