Childhood should be carefree. Is it so? Take a look at these statistics that depict another reality.
\n\n\n\nIndia has witnessed a decadal increase in crimes against children by more than 500%. The nation has 10 million children under 14 years of age in the workforce in some form, more than 50% of children in a government study reported experience of sexual abuse. Recent studies reported only 21% convictions with 89% pendency in cases of child sexual abuse.
\n\n\n\nTHE PROBLEM
\n\n\n\n“Children from all walks of life endure violence, and millions more are at risk… Violence against children takes many forms, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and may involve neglect or deprivation… Similarly, a wide range of perpetrators commit violence against children, such as family members, intimate partners, teachers, neighbours, strangers and other children”, says UNICEF.
\n\n\n\nIt is important to demonstrate that violation of children’s right to protection is not about oppression and violence restricted to certain pockets in the population. It is intrinsic to how children everywhere are treated at home, in school, institutions, in the community and over the internet.
\n\n\n\nYet, there is little concern or traction for Violence Against Children (VAC) beyond momentary bursts of public outrage which soon gets forgotten, leaving behind an inadequate shaky child protection edifice, which in fact should be a crucial pillar in social, economic growth and development.
\n\n\n\nLeher targets multiple constituencies-communities in our program areas, parents, young people who are tomorrow’s decision-makers, community-based groups, civil society organizations, state agencies and private corporations.
\n\n\n\nTHE OPPORTUNITY
\n\n\n\nOur strategy is to catalyze changes in societal norms and attitudes towards the protection and safety of children by encouraging collective thinking, ideation, interpersonal and public dialogue.
\n\n\n\nSocial media platforms have brought new concepts of communities-people who congregate in the digital space around common areas of interest/passions/struggles /hobbies/professions. These communities are largely young, have a voice, are interactive, and bring offline experiences into discussions. There is scope to find common ground between the communities’ interests and children’s safety.
\n\n\n\nIn pandemic times, lockdown and physical isolation led to the online world becoming space for expression, discussion and reflection on life, childhood, and other struggles. We recognized in this pensive reflective mood, an opportunity to initiate dialogue connecting youth struggles, their childhoods to the cause of ending violence against children.
\n\n\n\n#THEMINORPROJECT: A PUBLIC DIALOGUE TO HELP END VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN
\n\n\n\nThe Minor Project is a public dialogue initiative to Help End Violence Against Children. Through questions, conversations and an exchange of information and ideas, we believe we can set the foundations for a community that cares about protecting childhoods everywhere.
\n\n\n\nAs the nation begins to recover from the pandemic, we want this platform to bring children into the reckoning of decisions for development. We want this platform to be an easy to access reliable resource hub for information, orientation, and understanding on issues that affect children, especially those related to Violence Against Children (VAC) where youth lead the conversations.
\n\n\n\nTo know more about the Minor Project, read the FAQs.
\n\n\n\nThe Minor Project platform is an opportunity to scale up and nurture communities to be spokespersons for children. We begin by putting children first.
\n\n\n\nTo become a part of our online community head to @ProjectMinor
\n\n\n\nTo know more about child protection and the work we do, head to our Website: www.leher.org @LeherIndia
\n\n\n\nShould you have any questions you can email us on contact@leher.org
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLeher is a child rights organization working to make child protection a shared responsibility. We envision a society where caring families, alert communities, and responsive governments come together to ensure the rights and protection of all children.
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