CHILDLINE 1098 SERVICE » 1098 Events » Mumbai Paedophilia Workshop

Mumbai Paedophilia Workshop

A one-day Consultative Workshop on Paedophilia was organised by CHILDLINE India Foundation on 29th April 2006 at S .P Jain Institute of Management and Research. CHILDLINE's initiative in dealing with the issue of Paedophilia had gained momentum from the "Anchorage Case". This workshop was planned to formulate a future course of action to deal with the issue collectively.

The objective of the workshop was to network and bring together social activists, child rights activists, social workers, journalists, lawyers, police, personnel, educationists, responsible Indian citizens and sensitive human beings; to work together and address all the issues related to prevention, awareness of Child Sexual Abuse and paedophilia and the persecution of offenders.

Ms Kajol Menon, Executive Director, CHILDLINE India Foundation, highlighted the current scenario of child sexual abuse and paedophilia, issues and challenges. Ms. Chitrakala Acharya briefed the audience on the Anchorage Case.

This workshop was attended by experts from the field of Child Rights, allied systems and NGO representatives. Child Rights experts involved in the case presented their learning's from the Anchorage case and the role to be taken by the concerned allied systems in the wake of the case. Following the presentation, the audience interacted with the panelists. A number of queries were raised and response elicited for the same from the concerned experts.

The panelist consisted of

• Mr. Meher Pestonjee (Media),
• Dr. Nilima Mehta (CWC),
• Ms. Kalindi Mazumdar (State Monitoring Committee),
• Ms. Maharukh Adenwalla (Child Rights Activist),
• Mr. Paanmand (Department of Women and Child Development),
• Dr. Sanjay Apranti (DCP, Enforcement Police),
• Ms. Neerja Mattoo (S.P Jain Institute of Management)
• Dr. Armaity Desai chaired the panel.

Based on the recommendations from the floor, a follow-up Plan of action evolved, with respect to all the departments represented at the workshop.

Recommendations: (Move The Mouse over the buttons)

Increase awareness about CHILDLINE in police stations. Need to develop awareness material on Paedophilia and disseminate to all police stations, and Child Welfare Officers in all police stations in co-ordination with organizations working on the issue of child sexual abuse. Appointment of a counselor for every state run institution should be made mandatory. CHILDLINE 1098 should be compulsorily displayed in all children's institutions and one telephone to be installed in every institution to enable access to 1098. Government schools should be targeted to increase awareness about Child Sexual Abuse. Formation of a panel of Special Prosecutor at the state level to be able to take cases of child sexual abuse.

In its role CIF will facilitate the development of specific action plans to take the recommendations of the workshop to the next level.

Links:

Kajol's Introduction Speech

Report Bombay Paedophilia Workshop

Child sexual abuse and sexual commercial exploitation