EMN
Dimapur, May 6
A seminar on child rights was conducted on Wednesday, in Niuland on May 6. The event was a collaboration with district administration, Police panel of Dimapur and a nongovernmental organization called Childline, from Dimapur. The event was conducted in the ADC`s conference hall.
Delivering a keynote address, the additional deputy commissioner of Niuland subdivision, Lovitoli, said that the onus of upbringing was the responsibility of each citizen: parents, teachers, elders and social stakeholders. ‘Children are our heritage, blessing from God, our future leaders, and we elders have a great responsibility to shaping them by providing the right environment in our own individual capacities to make them good citizen in our society,’ she said.
The administrator said that creating the right space for children to grow and protecting them from any form of abuse and exploitation was critical to society role. ‘All children are equal and deserve the same the right without distinction,’ she said.
Emphasizing in the importance of creating awareness and sensitizing the people about what forms child rights, the additional deputy commissioner urged the media to play a more proactive role. She said many issues concerning children’s rights were not brought to light due to lack of awareness amongst the local populations.
Lovitoli expressed cooperation and assistance to the protection of child rights, and ‘in case of any violation of their rights’, she said to be there to help.
During the event, various topics concerning the ambit of child rights were discussed. The topics included one about child protection activities in the villages, and the role of the district child protection units. Another topic ‘Children in conflict with law and the role of the police was delivered by Deputy Commissioner of Police (zone II) of Dimapur Dr Ilyas KPA.
Later, nongovernmental organization Childline spoke gave a discourse on the topic ‘children in need of care and protection’.
The main event, the seminar was followed by an interaction and a question-answer session with participants. The participants included teachers, students, village council chairmen, secretaries and village headmen from villages from in and around Niuland subdivision. Besides, members of village child protection committees, and church leaders, and leaders of women and youth organizations attended the event.
The participants discussed issues of child labor, missing children, abused children, runaway children, children needing medical assistance, and children in need of care and protection and adoption.
A similar seminar, on integrated child protection schemes, was conducted in Mokokchung on Tuesday. The seminar had the themes “from street to school” and “Protection of children from sexual offences.” The event, organized by the District Child Protection Unit, was conducted in Penli ward’s community hall in Mokokchung.
Delivering a short speech during the program, the deputy commissioner of Mokokchung, Sushil Kumar Patel, said it was the duty and responsibility of every citizen to address the problems faced by vulnerable children. The issues can be addressed adequate and appropriate support systems that acts as remedies. He added that ‘absolute happiness’ can only be attained through collective happiness of the entire society.
