The Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs and Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights conducted a full day training on Child Protection and POCSO Act conducted for 78 physical education teachers at Institute Menezes Braganza.
The training was inaugurated by Jennifer Ferrao, Deputy Director of Sports, and Youth Affairs along with Peter F. Borges, Chairperson, Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
Jennifer Ferrao, Dy. Director, DSYA appreciated the Commission and said that this training will help acquaint teachers with the laws of the POCSO Act. Every student is as dear as our child and we as teachers have always left no stone unturned to contribute to their growth and development and protect them from abuse.
In the first session, on understanding protection of children”, Peter F. Borges detailed out the role of teachers in ensuring protection for the children, i.e. abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect in school setting. He cited that teachers should have updated knowledge of contemporary child protection issues.
The second session on Goa Children’s Act was delivered by Milena Gomes, Public Prosecutor of Children’s Court of Goa. She cited various examples of cases on crimes against children and highlighted the need for creating an ecosystem for building resilience and protection.
The session on safeguarding children under POCSO Act, 2012 was delivered by Enakshi Ganguly, Co-Founder HAQ: Centre for Child Rights and Hon. Professor National Law University, Odisha.
Screening the Alia Bhatt starrer movie Highway, she talked about a crime existing incognito within our society that, in most cases, is swept under the carpet, i.e. child sexual abuse.
Enakshi explained the features of the POCSO Act which protects all children under-18 years of age. She pointed out that the Act is gender-neutral and elaborated on the different forms of abuse ranging from sexual harassment to pornography to both penetrative and non-penetrative assaults.
She then talked on the correct approach to address such cases and reiterated the significance of creating a safe and supportive environment for all students within the school. Teachers were told to gain the confidence of students so that they could feel safe enough to confide in any form of sexual abuse.
