Call for reducing vulnerabilities of children

SHILLONG: Social Welfare Minister Deborah Marah has stressed the need for reducing vulnerabilities of children in the context of rise in crime against minors in the state.
Speaking at the one-day training programme on Child Rights and Child Protection held here on Friday, the Minister said that there is a need to strengthen the protective role of families and communities, to promote meaningful child participation and to have better child protection services.
She said that children also have basic rights of being born in a safe and non discriminatory environment.
According to Marak, the Convention on the Rights of the Child will be framed based on the four principles of non discrimination, best interest of the child, the right to survival and development which includes the right to mental and physical well being and freedom to express their views.
The Minister said that children’s views should be taken into account in all matters that affect them.
The resource persons for the programme included Mahendrasingh M. Sengar, Convener, North East for Child Rights and Pramod Kulkarni, founder secretary of SATHI.
The topics of discussion included various issues concerning rights of children.