The Juvenile Justice Committee, Supreme Court and Juvenile Justice Committee, High Court of Manipur on Wednesday organised a state level stakeholders' consultation on protection of children with disabilities for "Effective Implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act and POCSO Act with Specific Focus on Children with Disabilities” at the Auditorium, High Court of Manipur.
According to a statement issued by Athokpam Shanta Devi, Registrar (Vigilance) secretary, Juvenile Justice Committee, High Court of Manipur, the consultation was held on the themes (i) Availibity of services to inform judicial processes for children in conflict with law and child victims, including survivors of sexual violence (ii) Availiibilty of professional/functionaries/specialised and skilled workforce; and (iii) Availability of services for well being of children with disabilities who are in Child Care Institutions (across the categories of Children’s Homes, Observation Homes, Special Homes, Place of Safety).
The Consultation was chaired by Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh, chairperson, Juvenile Justice Committee, High Court of Manipur and Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu Kabui, member, Juvenile Justice Committee, High Court of Manipur, it stated.
Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu Kabui, in her keynote address, elaborated the objective of the consultation which is to strengthen the protection of children with disabilities, in the context of implementation of Juvenile Justice Act and the POCSO Act, including children who have been victims of sexual violence.
Representatives of various stakeholder departments, namely State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights, POCSO Courts, Children Courts, Juvenile Justice Boards, Social Welfare, Manipur Police, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Prosecution, Manipur State Legal Services Authority, Health Services, Education (S)/Samagra Shiksha, Special School, Child Care Institutions. CSOs/NGOs/CBOs and Child Welfare Committees attended the consultation and presented their views, expressed their concerns and gave their recommendations with regard to the themes laid on for the National Level Annual Stakeholders’ Consultation on the Protection of’ Children with Disabilities, 2024, it stated.
Further, the stakeholders deliberated/reviewed on the progress made and challenges faced along with focus areas defined through the National Consultation held in 2023 and the recommendations which emerged for children in conflict with law, it added.
