‘Child abuse in Nagaland growing at alarming rate’

State level consultation on 'It takes Nagaland to end child sexual abuse'

Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 10

Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) member secretary Longshithung Ezung today said that child abuse in Nagaland is a serious issue and the rate of child abuse in the state is growing at an alarming rate. 

“Child sexual abuse is a pressing human right issue and public health concern,” Ezung said while speaking at the state level consultation on “It takes Nagaland to End Child Sexual Abuse” organized by Child Protection Services, Department of Social Welfare here at Hotel Japfu.

Talking on the topic “Child protection mechanism and committing to end all forms of violence against children in Nagaland,” he said that cases of exploitation of children for domestic labour is of great concern.

 “In many homes across the state, mostly due to ignorance of the families and the children, children undergo all kinds of abuse and rights violation,” he said.

Ezung said that the only way to prevent these abusive incidents of child abuse is to continuously fight against such abuse.

He informed that Nagaland chapter of Childline based in Dimapur since inception in 2011 has intervened in 1457 cases pertaining to various “child protection risk areas” which include child abuse, trafficking, child labour, missing children, emotional support and guidance and various other distress situations children experienced. 

Ezung said the Legal Services Authority have been trying its best to spread awareness of child rights to the community by conducting various awareness programmes at the district level and as well as the state level.

NSLSA has also initiated Legal Literacy Clubs at schools, to teach the children about their rights. Presently, there are 110 such clubs in Nagaland.

Stating that children being of tender age and inexperience are the most vulnerable group of people, he said the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 has enlisted children as ‘Persons Entitled to Free Legal Services’.

According 12(c) of Legal Services Authority Act, 1987 a child who has to file or defend a case is entitled to legal services. When such case is brought to our notice, we the Legal Service Authority always provide free legal aid to the child through very competent and experienced panel lawyers, he said.

When a child is abused, he said the child is entitled to compensation under the Nagaland Victim Compensation Scheme, 2012. Loss of Life-Rs. 2,00,000, Rape- Rs. 1,00,000, Rehabilitation- Rs. 50,000, Human trafficking -Rs. 1,00,000 and Injury to child- Rs. 20,000.

“When an application is received about such cases, the Legal Services Authority see to it that the victims get the compensation that is due to them,” Ezung said.
 
Proper child protection mechanism stressed

Nagaland’s school education & SCERT principal director Shanavas stressed on the need to frame proper child protection mechanism in the state.

 “We have children who don’t express what they had gone through, so, some kind of counseling is needed,” he said.

He also wanted to see that Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 is strictly implemented and to put stop all sort of violence against children.

He also called for united effort from all section of the people, the departments and NGOs and work out mechanism to address the issue of child sexual abuse, “otherwise when children grow old they will curse us.”

He stressed on need to reach out to the village level and create adequate awareness since around 90 to 95% of the people live in rural areas.

We have to go to the field and address the issue, he said.

The principal director also maintained that churches have a major role to play and requested them to spread the awareness during Sunday services.

N. Awan Konyak, chairperson, Nagaland Commission for Protection of Child Rights and others also spoke on the occasion.

Later, the participants took pledge to take all efforts to end child sexual abuse.