Guidelines to prevent child abuse issued by Delhi Government

To Prevent Child Abuse the Delhi government issued a comprehensive guideline on 6 September 2013. The guideline was formulated by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

With this, Delhi became the first state in India to issue guideline to prevent child abuse.

The guideline lays strict norms for recruitment processes, awareness creation, child protection safeguards, transport and online safety, among other things.

They are to be followed by all institutions catering to children

• The guidelines do not allow the recruitment of any person with a criminal record of sexual or physical violence and calls for a thorough investigation into the prior employment and engagement of the person.
• It pushes for a uniform and standard teacher training module, which will cover a broad spectrum of child protection issues, including recognizing suspicious behavior, being aware of a child who displays erratic and or unusual behavior and the ability to engage a child and create a safe environment.
• The Delhi Police and the Special Juvenile Protection Units will undergo customized training to upgrade their knowledge of laws as well as to sensitise them towards child-friendly behaviour.
• Each institution is also expected to employ at least one counselor and is allowed to make use of the services of para counsellors when the need arises.
• The guidelines also put down strict norms for transportation of children. They call for at least one female ward/guard to be present on school buses until the last child is dropped home. In addition, they mandate that CCTV

Major stakeholders playing an important role in its implementation

• The institution which houses, educates or provides care facilities for the child;
• Individual stakeholders who are in a position of trust and responsibility
• The overall  community to act as watchdog

The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child

The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has been constituted under the provisions of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, to serve for the best interest of children of Delhi, below eighteen year of age.

The Commission is empowered to examine and review

• The safeguards under any law for the protection of child rights and recommend measures for their effective implementation
• Present annual and special reports to the government
• Enquire into violation of child rights and recommend initiation of proceedings in such cases
• Examine factors at that inhibit rights of children affected by terrorism, violence, disaster, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, mal-treatment, exploitation, pornography and prostitution