SHILLONG, March 29: Media has a pivotal role to play in helping victims of child abuse.
This was said by Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) chairperson Iamon M Syiem during a one-day regional-level orientation workshop of Northeastern states on child rights for media personnel.
Organised by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in collaboration with MSCPCR on Tuesday, the programme also touched upon topics like Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and the Right to Education Act.
Syiem, in her address, accentuated the need to help the victims of child abuse overcome their trauma. “The trauma faced by the victims of child abuse never leaves. Most of them are fragmented, wounded and emotionally disabled. Therefore, there is a need to have compassion and passion to help victims of child abuse come out of this trauma,” Syiem said.
She also informed the gathering that more often than not the perpetrators are from the family.
“Such incidents are occurring in the very spaces when you feel that you are safe,” Syiem said.
Senior Technical Expert, NE NCPCR, Paresh Shah, on the other hand, informed that the problem faced by the NCPCR is that the identity of the child is revealed.