EMN
Dimapur, August 14
Some of the most press concerns facing the wellbeing of the younger community today are the dangers the virtual world, the internet, pose to them, and conversely, how vulnerable they are in the real world especially for the destitute and those affected by violence either at home or in the streets.
The two issues were the focus of discourse various speakers and workers in the field of children rights who spoke during a recent seminar in Kohima.
The Kohima District Legal Services Authority organized a seminar at G Rio School in Kohima town on Thursday, August 13.
The seminar was about “legal sensitization” about the cyber world and violence, and risk to the wellbeing of children.
A short documentary on child abuse was screened during the event. It was followed by a discourse by Mezivolu T Therieh, chief judicial magistrate who spoke about the cyber world and the information technology Act.
In her presentation, Therieh highlighted the evolution of the social media, its merits and demerits.
She went on to say that social media was no doubt making life ‘easy and giving us ample opportunity to know the world at our desk’.
However, she cautioned that there were ‘negative impacts’ caused to humanity by it and to children through the misuse of information technology ‘by some miscreants’.
She said that children below the age of 18 years should have access to social media only through proper guidance either from their parents or someone older. She reiterated that children below the age of 18 should not have a Facebook account.
In India in every one second, 14 persons ‘become victim of the social media’.
To redress such grievances, she said, one has to seek help through organizations such as Child Help line set up in every town, city and state. Citizens can access the helpline by dialing ‘1098’.
Further, Therieh talked about the provisions of the Information Technology Act.
She pointed out the provisions for redress. As a closing remark, she advised students to use social networking sites ‘responsibly, transparent and legally with proper guidance’.
Also, another resource person Joshua Sheqi, a panel lawyer spoke about the Juvenile Justice Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
In his presentation, Shequi talked about the laws that address juveniles in conflict with the law and children in need of care and protection.
He highlighted the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, which operates in a manner ‘that is best for the interest and well being of the child.’
The Act gives paramount importance to ensure the health, physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of the child, he said.
Whoever commits penetrative sexual assault, sexual harassment, or engage child pornography upon children who are below 18 years of age is punishable under the Act, he said.
Nino Iralu, Member Secretary of the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) delivered a short speech on the activities of the NSLSA and how by an amendment of the Article 39 of the Constitution of India, it came about for the benefit of the marginalized and the economically-backward sections of the society.
She encouraged the students to live as law-abiding citizens ‘so that peace prevails in our land’.
An interactive session with the students was conducted during the event too.
327 students were present in the seminar.
What are Child Rights?
A right is as an agreement or contract established between the persons who hold a right (often referred to as the “rights-holders”) and the persons or institutions which then have obligations and responsibilities in relation to the realization of that right (often referred to as the “duty-bearers”.) Child Rights Child rights are specialized human rights that apply to all human beings below the age of 18. Child Rights
Universally child rights are defined by the United Nations and United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). According to the UNCRC Child Rights are minimum entitlements and freedoms that should be afforded to all persons below the age of 18 regardless of race, colour, gender, language, religion, opinions, origins, wealth, birth status or ability and therefore apply to all people everywhere. The UN finds these rights interdependent and indivisible, meaning that a right can not be fulfilled at the expense of another right.
The purpose of the UNCRC is to outline the basic human rights that should be afforded to children. There are four broad classifications of these rights. These four categories cover all civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights of every child.
Right to Survival: A child’s right to survival begins before a child is born. According to Government of India, a child life begins after twenty weeks of conception. Hence the right to survival is inclusive of the child rights to be born, right to minimum standards of food, shelter and clothing, and the right to live with dignity.
Right to Protection: A child has the right to be protected from neglect, exploitation and abuse at home, and elsewhere.
Right to Participation: A child has a right to participate in any decision making that involves him/her directly or indirectly. There are varying degrees of participation as per the age and maturity of the child.
Right to Development: Children have the right to all forms of development: Emotional, Mental and Physical. Emotional development is fulfilled by proper care and love of a support system, mental development through education and learning and physical development through recreation, play and nutrition.
