Call for concerted efforts to protect children’s rights

Protect their rights whenever they are under threat, government and NGOs told

The government and non-governmental agencies working for the children’s welfare should ensure better coordination among themselves so as to protect the children’s rights and well being whenever it was under threat, Tamil Nadu State Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairperson Saraswathi Rangaswamy has said. Addressing a review meeting held here on Friday, she said better coordination among departments like education, social welfare, district child welfare committee, district child protection unit, the police and non-governmental organisations, must be ensured so as to take appropriate steps to protect the children’s rights. The stakeholders should have thorough understanding of the laws pertaining to protection of children and their rights so that immediate action to alleviate their problems could be taken. Any complaint pertaining to sexual harassment of the children should be viewed very seriously and immediate intervention and assistance should be ensured while the identity of the victim was guarded at all levels.