Need a national movement for the protection of children

[Guest guest]

Dear colleagues,

We would like to place before you a problem so serious especially since children

have very little voice to protect themselves.To us, you are a reallly special

group that has links with stalwarts in advocacy,law , or yourselves one of them.

India has been identified as a source, transit and destination point in the

international circuit where large numbers of children are also trafficked within

the country. According to a study conducted by Shakti Vahini in 2006{must be all

statesby now}, “Trafficking in India”, 378 of the 593 districts in India are

affected by human trafficking. 10% of human trafficking in India is

international, while almost 90% is interstate. {MWCD 2007}.

India has the dubious distinction of having the world's largest number of

sexually abused children with a child below 16 years raped every 155th minute, a

child below 10 every 13th hour, and one in every 10 children sexually abused at

any point in time.

These figures resoundingly break the silence that surrounds and perpetuates

sexual abuse of children.Sexual abuse of children is a very real problem in

India, and the situation is aided by the absence of effective legislation and

the silence that surrounds the offence.{Volume 20 - Issue 21, October 11 - 24,

2003, Frontline.}

We do acknowledge the wealth of experience you have with children at risk or

legal matters and ask you to work out sustainable ways to protect our children.

Our feedback from a few sources is that a bill bringing together all offenses

against children is better at implementing instead of having it in JJA etc etc

etc...in different ones.

We have heard of the Offenses Against Children Bill that was proposed by

Ministry of Women and Child {2005}Development . It was returned by Law Ministry

in 2006.

MWCD wants to push for the Bill once again and the same has been given to you at

the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights for further debate

and updation. The Bill in its current form has brought together the various

offenses against children and can be used as a tool to discuss the issues in

child protection.

We are hoping to join in your concerted advocacy along with civil society

organisations to demand for a legislation with implementation systems of this

kind which could strengthen the efforts of MWCD to push for the legislation.

Please give us your feedback, ideas and support for increasing advocacy for a

comprehensive legislation for child protection including setting up of

mechanisms required for this.

We hope to begin a spiral where by a national movement for the protection of

children is realised and for the best interest of the child.

With best wishes,

Pereira and Florence

INSA India

International Services Association

5/1 Benson Cross Road

Benson Town Bangalore

Tel 23536633; 23536299

mobile 9449865413

Email insaind@... or childatrisk@...