IMPHAL, February 1: The Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights; Manipur State Legal Service Authority (MASLSA) and Manipur Alliance for Child Right in partnership with District Child Protection Unit, Senapati conducted a one day consultation programme on Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act 2012 and Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act in Senapati district.
The programme was participated by all the police officers from all police stations of Senapati district, representatives from Child Welfare Committee; JJB; NGOs; CBOs; DCPU and SJPU.
Delivering key note address, Chairperson of MCPCR S. Saratkumar Sharma emphasized the need to fully understand the POCSO ACT 2012 & JJ ACT 2015 by the police personnel as they were the one who will be directly handling the case of child sexual abuse.
Session Judge, Senapati Dr. Shantibala Devi stated that there is an urgent need to have such program frequently.
Kh. Pradeep, ex–Chairperson of Child Welfare Committee, Imphal East highlighted the challenges and gaps faced by the CWCs in the implementation of POSCO ACT 2012 and JJ ACT 2015.
Ch Momon Singh, lecturer of LMS Law college gave an over view of the changes of the recent amendment of JJ ACT 2015 while stressing the need to incorporate view and suggestion while framing the State rules.
On behalf of the Police Department, Additional SP Hemant Pandey spoke on the challenges their department is facing while addressing the issues related to children.
He advised police officers to take up necessary action in accordance to law in the matter concerning children as most of the time public tend to compromise justice with customary law.
Montu Ahanthem, Convener of MACR deliberated on the role of NOGs, CBOs, CSOs in protection of child rights, as It has been noted that victims of child sex abuse, and often their families, prefer to approach and seek advice from an NGO/CBO/CSO even before they report the matter to the police.
They also play a vital role in identifying child sexual abuse, as a number of them work with children and are aware of the particular problems and behaviour of each child, he stated.
Montu Ahanthem said that it is mandatory to report under Section 21(1) of POCSO Act, 2012, any person, who has an apprehension that an offence is likely to be committed or has knowledge that an offence has been committed, has a mandatory obligation to report the matter i.e. media personnel, staff of hotel/ lodges, hospitals, NGOs, CSOs, clubs, studios, or photographic facilities.
Failure to report attracts punishment with imprisonment of up to six months or fine or both. It is also mandatory for police to register an FIR in all cases of child abuse. A child`s statement can be recorded even at the child`s residence or a place of his choice and should be preferably done by a female police officer not below the rank of sub-inspector, he maintained.
As per this act, the child`s medical examination can be conducted even prior to registration of an FIR. This discretion is left up to the Investigation Officer (IO). The IO has to get the child medically examined in a government hospital or local hospital within 24 hours of receiving information about the offence. This is done with the consent of the child or parent or a competent person whom the child trusts and in their presence, he elaborated.
During the discussion, SP Senapati Kabib K narrated the cases he had encountered when he was the SP Churachandpur.
The programme ended with a vote of thanks by R.K. Mancha Devi, Member Secretary of Manipur State Legal Service Authority (MASLSA).
She requested the concerned stakeholders to cooperate in providing justice to the children of the State.