Community Based Child Protection Mechanism inRrural India – A Case Study of Odisha

Sushri Sangita Puhan – Independent consultant, Odisha, India&Professor Ravinder Barn – Royal Holloway, University of London

India’s children

Largest child population in the

world .Every fifth child in the

world lives in India

More than 1/3 of country’s population (around 472 million) : 0-18 yrs

29% constitutes children of 0-5 years : 140 million

48% girls and 52% boys

India’s children…

40 million children work as child laborers.

19 out of every 100 children are out of school

Missing girl: 4-5 million

1-2 children under 10 are sexually abused on any given

day

Declining child sex ratio from 927 to 914 /1000

Constitutional obligation

Constitution of India guarantees Right to Equality Right to life

Free and compulsory education between the age of six to fourteen years

• Protection from: Trafficking & forced labour Employment in factory or mine or any other hazardous

employment Abuse, exploitation & moral and material abandonment

International commitments to children

International Commitments

Ratification of United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of

the Child (UNCRC, 1989) – 1992

2000- Optional Protocols on Sale of Children, Child

Prostitution & Child Pornography & the Involvement of

Children in Armed Conflict Ratification of Hague Convention on Protection of Children &

Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption in 2003

Other International Covenants & Regional agreements

(SAARC)

Legislations for protection of children

Several issue specific legislations introduced – Trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation Child Labour Gender biased sex selection Child marriage Adoption

Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and its amendment act 2006

To provide justice, & rehabilitation services for children in difficult circumstances Focus on non-institutional care for orphan, abandoned & surrendered children

Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 Establishes Commissions for Protection of Child Rights at National & State level

Right of Children to Free & Compulsory Education Act, 2009 Protection of children from Sexual Offences, Act 2012

Support services

Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) Child line services for children in distress, especially children in

need of care and protection Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for the Children of Working

Mothers in the age group of 0-6 years Scheme for Assistance to Homes for Children (Shishu Greha) to

Promote In-Country Adoption for care and protection of orphans/abandoned/destitute infants or children up to 6 years

Scheme for Working Children in Need of Care and Protection for children kept as domestic child labour

Pilot Project to Combat the Trafficking of women and Children for Commercial Sexual Exploitation

National Child Labour Project (NCLP) for rehabilitation of child labourers

Community-based child protection mechanisms (CBCPM)

Formal groups that work at grassroots level to monitor, respond to, and prevent child protection issues

Have emerged as preventive and responsive approaches to address diverse child protection threats that arise at different levels in the community – used by NGOs & community actors to safeguard children.

In modern Indian society, such threats can range from child abuse, child labour, child marriage, child trafficking, preventing female foeticide and rescue of abandoned children.

Study aims

To identify conceptualisations of child protection and safeguarding on the part of different actors.

To establish understandings of existing child protection mechanisms to determine help-seeking behaviour and practices.

To examine strengths and deficits of CBCPM and their effectiveness & sustainability

To understand children’s perspective and responsibility for their own protection

Methodology

A qualitative and participatory methodological approach – consultation, focus group discussion and individual interview.

Thematic framework analysis

Respondents Number

CBCPM members, SHG members

30 ( 18 women and 12 men)

CBCPM Chairperson

2 (men)

PRI members 2 (1 men and 1 women)

Children/young people

23 (16 girls and 7 boys)

Social Scientist 1 (woman)

Total 58

Key findings : Child protection concerns

Child abuse,

child labour,

School drop out,

child marriage,

migration,

abandoned children,

teenage pregnancy (unwed mother)

Female foeticide

Eve teasing

Alcoholism

Use of mobile – a threat for sexual abuse and elopement

Intensity of concern- who is more affected and why?

Although the intensity of concern is same for both boys and girls but girls are more affected because of their status as ‘GIRL’.

Discrimination - family and community

Restricted movement

No space for sharing opinion and expression

Reporting child protection concerns

Main sources of referrals include children, neighbours and other community members.

Parents – incase of missing child, abuses in school

Growing awareness of child protection but low levels of referrals

“Abuses (Physical, emotional) at home is not reported as it has been accepted as part of cultural practice. Issues related to girl child abuse, ill behaviour, exploitation does not get reported and suppressed due to social taboo and unfavorable response from family. ”

Issues addressed by CBCPMs

Child labour and bonded labour

Girl child marriage

School drop out

Missing child

Abandoned girl child

Child abuse – physical

Trafficking

Capacity building and outreach work

Training and orientation to children’s group

Training and refreshers for CPCs.

Street plays and puppet show,

Village meetings,

Meetings with children's group,

Rallies

Campaigns

Positive impact

A space has been created for issues affecting children ad steps taken to address

Gradual changes in practice and attitude towards girls Significant decline in the rate of girl child marriage Increased no. of institutional delivery All children of 6-14 years are in school No child is engaged in livestock sector and as child labour in

community Increased no. of women participation in the meetings and

orientation program on child protection CBCPM members have been selected as resource persons to

capacitate Panchayat level Child Protection Committees formed by Govt.

Challenges

Non-cooperation from families – competing perspectives eg child labour, trafficking, girl child marriage

Reluctance in reporting and seeking help in case of sexual abuse, female foeticide Threaten by the abuser Poor participation of men in sensitization and awareness program Non-cooperation from local police due to lack of sensitization and understanding on

child protection Recognition and support by Govt. stakeholders without legal identity

“The committee gets threatened by illicit people in the community those who have been involved in child abuse and exploitation. There are cases of child trafficking which identified by the committee. While investigating further the middle man warn to the committee members not to interfere. At times parents also do not support as they give importance to the financial benefit incase of children are employed. Similarly it is difficult to get support from local Police unless there is intervention from District level

Factors contributed to the effectiveness

Responsibility of the CBCPMs and informed community members

Involvement of PRI members

Génuine child participation

Timeliness of facilitation to address the issue

Resourcing—ongoing training/capacity building

Linkages—engagement with Govt. structures and support from the stakeholders

Policy and practice implication

Legal identity of the committees for better acceptance at all levels.

Strengthen linkage with Government structures for access to timely and effective support

More awareness program is still required to educate people on child protection issues, consequences and need of reporting.

Educating children with adequate information for their own protection.

Voices of children

Protection from abuse, drugs (taking, making and selling) and discrimination has been emerged as top three rights of children. (out of top 5 rights)

Parents should be more sensitized on discrimination (between boys and girls), importance of girls’ education, consequences of alcoholism and abuses.

All children should be trained and oriented on child protection issues, expected behaviour from adults and reporting mechanisms.

CBCPMs should be formed in all communities.

Voices from field

’I wish I was a boy. So that I would have lived a better life without any restriction’ - Unanimously that was the response of all girls present in a consultation’.

‘Our brothers should be sensitized to share our responsibilities in household work. That would be more effective then sensitizing our parents.’ Renu, (G) 14 yr, child club member

‘Selling and consuming alcohol should be stopped in our village if we want a better life for our children.’ Kavita, (W) 38 yr, SHG member

‘Acceptance and support of community has been gradually increased towards Child protection committee and so the perception of people towards children. We can expect a better future for children of our community.’ ‘Chairperson, CBCPM (M), 58 yr

Conclusion

Growing awareness of child rights and child protection

Need for greater availability of CBCPM structures in all villages

Continuing and more engaging outreach work

Facilitating positive social change

Better and more engaging partnerships with local police, and communities to enhance confidence in identifying and reporting harm, and working together to safeguard children.

THANK YOU