Inauguration: The two-day State Level Workshop with paralegal volunteers for strengthening child protection systems and services in Gujarat began with the inaugural ceremony in the benign presence of Dr. Laxmi Bhawani, Chief of Office, UNICEF, Gujarat -Chief Guest & Mr. R.K. Modh, Project Officer, Gujarat State Legal Service Authority -Guest of Honour. The welcome note was given by the Provost Dr. Deepkal Shishoo. The gathering of our PLV participants was addressed by Prof. (Dr.) Saroj Bohra outlining the objective of the two-day workshop in partnership with UNICEF and collaboration with Gujarat State Legal Service Authority. She mentioned that 116 participants from the 26 districts of the State of Gujatat participated in the workshop making it a one of it’s kind State level workshop. Prof. (Dr.) Debarati Halder, had shed light upon the schedule for the two-day workshop before the august gathering.
The keynote address was made by Mr. Modh where he highlighted the importance of PLV’s. He emphasized that as a PLV it was most important to relate to the community with feelings of empathy and understand their grievances to guide them towards an appropriate remedy. He outlined the role of PLV’s to collaborate with NGOs for organizing awareness camps for villagers, to engage in Pro-bono research and conduct surveys, ensure publication of their studies and reports that they undertake and lastly to remain updated with the knowledge base and information they have by participating in such workshops.
Dr. Laxmi addressed the gathering with the important provisions under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights relating to protection and preservation of the innocent minds of the children. She emphasized upon the contribution of PLV’s to not only make the people aware about child right and protection, but to also inform the, rather attend to the victims and provide them the necessary remedy in terms of compensation and relief. She desired that network with other PLV’s across the state of Gujarat and even pan-India needs to be made, whereby they must ensure to create and build a repository of information and knowledge about the laws and remedy for child rights protection.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Mr. Shrut where he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all our dignitaries for the event and the PLV participants that arrived at the workshop.
Day 1 : The First Technical Session on ‘Role of Para Legal Volunteers as defined in the Principal legislation in India: key principles of free legal aid and how legal aid should reach all segments of India’s citizens’ was undertaken by Dr. Debarati Halder, Coordinator of the Workshop & Professor, Unitedworld School of Law. Dr. Halder enlightened participants on the strategies that PLVs shall follow, the key principles of free legal aid and how it shall reach to all segments of India’s citizens including marginalized and vulnerable groups such as women and children.
The First Technical Session on ‘Role of Para Legal Volunteers as defined in the Principal legislation in India: key principles of free legal aid and how legal aid should reach all segments of India’s citizens’ was undertaken by Dr. Debarati Halder, Coordinator of the Workshop & Professor, Unitedworld School of Law. Dr. Halder enlightened participants on the strategies that PLVs shall follow, the key principles of free legal aid and how it shall reach to all segments of India’s citizens including marginalized and vulnerable groups such as women and children.
The Second technical session was delivered by Mr. Vedprakash Gautam,
Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF. This session addressed the key question
why children are considered to be vulnerable and the vulnerabilities of
children in India and Gujarat. The Session also covered the evolution of Child
Rights as specific domain within Human Rights based programming framework; and
the international instruments on Child Rights and Child Protection.
The Third technical session on ‘Indian Constitution as source of all
legislation on Children in India: Key Articles and facets of Indian
Constitution that ensure the rights of children’ by Prof. Shashank Shekhar,
Assistant Professor, UWSL. The session covered the pillar base of our country –
Our Constitution, its importance and rights possessed by every citizen of India
(including children) bestowed upon by the democracy, socialism, equity and
separation of powers between the centre and state giving it a prominent status
in the society and portraying it as an inseparable part of the society.
The Fourth Session was taken by Dr. Kalpesh Gupta, Associate Professor,
Parul University comprehensively dealing with Juvenile Justice Act. Dr. Gupta
stated that Children of any society are always in a need of protection and care
and the society should take endeavours to pursue it.
The next session was taken by Ms. Hemalee Leuvaa, State Consultant, Child Protection, UNICEF and Mr. Wasim Abdul Kureshi covering the scheme of Palak Mata Pita Yojna offered by the Gujarat Government starting from 1978 for orphan children to provide them an domestic and protective environment and Integrated Child Protection Scheme. It was followed by a comprehensive session on ‘POCSO Act, Online Child Victimization and Special Courts for Children’ taken by Dr. Debarati Halder, Coordinator of the Workshop & Professor, Unitedworld School of Law. The session addressed the issues involving the importance of pro bono lawyers working towards the direction of public good and the causes and the services rendered to the society. The PLVs should mainly perform three functions such involving to pursue education, to be informed about the current affairs in the society and also to lend a hand towards the suffering sections of the society. Along with this Dr. Halder also enlightened the PLVs about POCSO and Juvenile Justice Act targeting difference amongst sexual assault and sexual harassment.
Day 2 : The second day of the Two-Days State Level Workshop with Para-Legal
Volunteers For Strengthening Child Protection Systems and Services in Gujarat
was commenced today on May 26th, 2019 with great zeal and enthusiasm among
individuals. The PLV participants and the session resource persons had a link
of concern and attachment towards the vulnerable issues involving Child
Protection and safety and the key factors involved with the current issues in
the society with a great sense of dedication. Various deficient factors
prevalent in the society were addressed.
The first session took a boost with the discussion of Ms. Gunjan
Chawla, Assistant Professor, Unitedworld School of Law which involved right to
education and equality between the male and female students as well as the
right to primary education free of cost, including the convenience of one
teacher among every thirty students. Along with this, she also informed about
web portals for education such as SHAGUN, Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan PATHSHALA,
etc.
The second session was taken up by Dr. Asha Verma throwing light upon
the topics involving Child Labour and Bonded Labour inclusive of the topics of
exploitation and misuse of the innocent nature of children working in
industries. The Child Labour Prohibition and Abolition Act 2016 targets the
individuals or organizations and shields the unfortunate children working under
the forceful circumstances for earning monetary resources. Children have always
been viewed as the future of any nation, they should be shaped into a better
future rather than burdening them with labour. She also talked about the key
things which help in finding whether the labour is bonded or not. She said,
PLVs are supposed to observe them closely, later on, if the labour is bonded or
child labour, they should counsel and encourage them to get enrolled in
schools.
The succeeding session was taken by Dr. Parna Mukherjee, Assistant
Professor, GLS touching the subjects of child trafficking and relative laws
also rules related to it. She has divided the topic of trafficking into the
three main factual factors i.e. 1. Sex Trafficking, 2. Labour and exploitation,
3.Trafficking for removal of body organs. United Nations Convention on the
rights of the child,1989, and discussed the general principles like
non-discrimination in the interest of children (Article 3 ) and the Right of
children to be heard (Article 12) and to provide them with an equal opportunity
in every sector. Therefore to protect the interests of victimized Children, an
act, i.e. Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation Bill, 2018 is formed and
also the efforts such as National Child Helpline and rescue measures are
included to save as many lives as possible as a valuable asset and treasure of
the country.
The fourth session was taken up by Prof. (Dr) Akil Saiyed, Dean – Law
Department, Parul University, lifting up the main and highlighting the issue of
our society such as causes of child marriage, poverty, protecting the sexual
exploitation of young girls and women. Our society has faced an imbalance in
gender equality for a long time because of the male dominant society and
biasness towards the females of our community. He has also addressed the role
and basic principles of skills expected in any PLV possessing the skills like
courage, safety, coordination and having a motto to “Protect the life of
vulnerable”.
The fifth session was taken up by Mr. Shrut Brahmbhatt, Assistant
Professor, Karnavati University explained the important obstacles of violence
against children clarifying how Violence has been defined by various
international organisations pointing out the places where violence against
children takes place. Further the most vulnerable children groups such as
Disabled Children, Children with Gender non-conformity, and Children with
belonging to SC & ST groups.
The workshop was concluded with an open session where PLVs were
welcomed to give their suggestions and feedback.
Each PLV from every district came and shared their experience and
observations as a Para Legal Volunteer and the experience of attending two days
workshop. They thanked the University and UNICEF for conducting the workshop.
PLVs thanked KU, UNICEF and Gujarat State Legal Services Authority for
hosting an exclusive workshop for Paralegal volunteers first time in the state
of Gujarat. They shared their heart honestly and gave suggestion to uplift and
empower Paralegal volunteers in the state of Gujarat and expected more such
workshops and seminars to be conducted in future to appraise and update them
about laws. The workshop had an overwhelming response with around 116
participants registered across 26 districts of Gujarat.
