Activists seek policy to safeguard child rights

The draft child rights protection policy was prepared by the team after a detailed consultation with various stake-holders along with the UNICEF. “The main objective of this School Child Rights Protection Policy is to keep all the children safe in schools,” said the activists. The policy not only aims at preventing child abuse but also has stipulations in place to provide justice to the victim. 

The draft policy suggests measures to make schools safe for children by introducing a behavioural code of conduct for the teaching and non-teaching staff, background check for them, capacity building, redressal system and set-ting up of a school child rights protection committee. 

Speaking to DT Next, Thomas Jeyaraj, Convenor, Tamil Nadu Child Rights Protection Network (TNCRPN), which played an important role in drafting the framework, said that child abuse in school is largely due to ignorance. 

“Many teachers are not aware that shouting at the students amount to emotional abuse while beating is physical abuse. It may lead the children to drop out of school. There is an urgent need for a policy for the prevention of child abuse as the current system involves actions only after the incident has occurred. We want the policy to be implemented in all government, government-aided and private schools which come under the jurisdiction of the state government,” he added.

Professor Andrew Sesuraj, State Convener, Tamil Nadu Child Rights Observatory (TNCRO), said that the policy will ensure that child rights are safeguarded. “Its purpose is to create a protective environment for the children in schools and underline the responsibility of teachers and other stakeholders in this connection. The Minister was positive about the draft policy, adding that the government is fully committed to the protection of child rights,” he said, adding that another meeting will soon be held to look into the practicalities of the draft policy.