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Centre drafts child protection policy
News:
The Ministry of Women and Child Development drafts child protection policy to curb the instances of abuse of minors in shelter homes and child care institutions.
Important Facts:
- This will be the first policy dedicated to the protection of children, an area that until now was only a part of the broader National Child Policy, 2013.
- The current policy draws upon the safeguards provided under the Constitutions of India, various child-centric legislation, international treaties as well as other existing policies for the protection and wellbeing of children
- It provides a framework for all institution, and organization (including corporate and media houses), government or private sector to understand their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding/ protecting children and promoting the welfare of children; individually and collectively.
Important Provisions:
- A policy has four aspects — creating awareness, prevention, reporting and responding,
- Provided code of conduct for employees of all organisations and a declaration signed by them agreeing to ensure the safety of children
- As per the draft, the policy will apply to “all institutions, and organisations (including corporate and media houses), government or private sector
- It recommends that all organisations must have a code of conduct based on “zero tolerance of child abuse and exploitation”.
- It requires organisations to lay down that employees don’t use language or behavior that is “inappropriate, harassing, abusive, sexually provocative, demeaning or culturally inappropriate”.
- Institutions should also designate a staff member to ensure that procedures are in place to ensure the protection of children as well as to report any abuse
- The document also comprises a list of behaviors towards children that are punishable by law, including the POCSO and JJ Acts
Major Criticism:
- It doesn’t talk about children who may need additional special protection measures: including those affected by migration, communal or sectarian violence, children forced into begging or in conflict with the law, and those infected with HIV/AIDS.
- Policy is silent on the role of the state for ensuring the protection of child rights or addressing local grievances.
- While it talks about organisations laying down a code of conduct, it doesn’t explain what is acceptable behavior such as conduct of teachers in schools
Way Forward:
- The document needs to define what child protection is as well as what it means by institutions or organisations.
- Norms should be designed in such a way that organisations can customize their policies according to the nature of their work, thereby, giving them a sense of ownership on safeguarding children’s rights.
- The government should use the opportunity which goes beyond the role of institutions and look at the role of individuals.