State Children's Consultation on SAIEVAC themes held for Odisha
Bhubaneswar(28/10/2024): Renowned voluntary organisation of Odisha working for the rights and welfare of the children especially those in difficult and vulnerable situations like children with disabilities, Open Learning Systems, conducted a state level consultation with children on the themes of South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC). Children from various districts participated with physical presence to deliberate on child labour, child marriage, child trafficking, corporal punishment and child sexual abuse and online abuse.
The cross cutting themes were children with disabilities, child participation and climate change affecting children.
Sixteen children took part in the deliberations facilitated by Preeti Sushama, a Global Health professional from Maastricht University, the Netherlands and child participation/protection practitioner.
Nearly 20 children from Sonepur, Koraput, Nimapada and Phulbari participated online and gave their opinions and suggestions. The children were shown films on each of the themes in Odia for better understanding in the beginning and then asked questions on each one for their opinions.
Efforts were made to elicit response from each child.
Anuradha Mohanty, ED of PECUC and former Member of Juvenile Justice Board conducted a part of the session on Child Sexual Abuse and Online Abuse.
The children then prioritised Child Labour and Child Sexual and Online Abuse as the two most critical themes to be deliberated further and taken up in the upcoming National Children's Consultation in November in Delhi. Further deliberations were held by the children on the two selected themes and suggestions given on the way forward to mitigate/end the practice with the involvement of all the stakeholders including government and non-government agencies, children, communities, PRI members etc. Finally, the children elected a girl, Ns.
Nibedita Jena from Nimapada to represent the State in the National Children's Consultation. Ranjan Kumar Mohanty, former Chairperson, NACG-EVAC India and Secretary, PECUC was also present and observed the proceedings. Kalandi Charan Bhoi from Nimapada, Bishnu Priya Mohapatra from Balianta, Bamadev Jena from Bolagarh, Deepak Behera, Manoj Sahoo, Biren Jena and Namita Jee from Bhubaneswar assisted in conducting the event successfully. The event was conducted by the Odisha Chapter of National Action & Coordination Group to End Violence Against Children, India led by its Convenor, Prakash Rath.
It was supported by and in collaboration with SAIEVAC, SACG, NACG-EVAC India, ILO, Stop Child Exploitation, Miracle Foundation, Bal Kalyan Sangh, CINI, Chetna and Open Learning Systems.
The participating organisations of Odisha were OLS, PECUC, SAHARA, RARE and HELP.
