A two-day Regional Convention on Child Rights under the theme “Strengthening Child Rights Protection in North East India through Regional Cooperation and Collaborative Action” concluded at Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, on Saturday. The convention, held on July 31 and August 1, was organised by the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR), bringing together all eight State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs) of the North Eastern Region for the first time.
The convention was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, who appreciated the initiative of bringing all eight SCPCRs under one platform to deliberate on common child rights challenges. He assured full support from the State Government and proposed that such regional conventions be held annually on a rotational basis across the North Eastern States.
The Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) was represented by a delegation led by its Chairperson Keisam Pradipkumar, accompanied by Member Anita Chabungbam and Programme Officer Sumen Singh Yumnam.
During the deliberations, Keisam Pradipkumar highlighted the unprecedented humanitarian crisis faced by nearly 30,000 internally displaced children affected by the ethnic violence in Manipur, which has continued for more than three years. He appealed for institutional and regional collaboration to address the protection, education, mental health and rehabilitation needs of these children. In a similar vien, chairperson of Mizoram SCPCR, Jimmy Laltlanmawia, expressed concern over the increasing influx of refugees from Myanmar and displaced persons from Manipur into Mizoram, noting that the situation has contributed to emerging challenges such as substance abuse, illicit trafficking and child trafficking.
The convention also deliberated on emerging issues including cyber safety, digital addiction and online protection of children. MCPCR, Manipur, further emphasized the need for greater attention to the rights and protection of gender non-conforming children within the school system.
APSCPCR Chairperson Anya Ratan informed that the convention would adopt the Tawang Declaration, calling upon the Central Government, State Governments and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to establish a stronger regional mechanism for cooperation among the North Eastern States and SCPCRs to safeguard and promote child rights.
The valedictory function was graced by Priyank Kanoongo, Member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), as the Chief Guest. He underscored the importance of coordinated regional action in addressing the evolving child protection challenges confronting the North Eastern Region.