State Legal Services Authority, UT Chandigarh initiates a two-day Capacity Building Programme on Child Rights
The Voice of Chandigarh|Canada News:
State Legal Services Authority, UT Chandigarh initiated a two-day Capacity Building Programme on Child Rights, understanding the Juvenile Justice Law and the responsibility of Legal Aid Lawyers. The program has been organized for Panel Lawyers and Judicial Officers of Juvenile Justice Boards. A number of Judicial Officers of Juvenile Justice Boards and Panel Lawyers of Legal Services Authority, Chandigarh attended the program.
The same was inaugurated by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Jaswant Singh, Judge Punjab and Haryana High Court cum Executive Chairman, State Legal Services Authority, UT Chandigarh cum Chairman, Juvenile Justice Monitoring Committee, Punjab and Haryana High Court and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Gurvinder Singh Gill, Judge Punjab and Haryana High Court-cum-Member, Juvenile Justice Monitoring Committee, Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Justice Jaswant Singh, speaking on the occasion, said that such trainings are very important for Panel Lawyers as they deal with cases of children on a daily basis. They also have to look at the rehabilitation of children and connect them to various government schemes. He further said that the Judicial Officers in Juvenile Justice Boards need to be sensitive and they have been given the authority under the new Juvenile Justice Act, to declare that a child who is alleged to have committed a heinous crime, aged between 16 – 18 years be treated as an adult. This huge responsibility makes it very important that the Judicial Officers deal with such cases sensitively.
Justice Gurvinder Singh Gill informed that the Juvenile Justice Monitoring Committee has the added responsibility of ensuring there is an overall capacity building of all stakeholders and children are not ignored in the society.
The resource persons of this program are Ms. Bharti Ali, Executive Director, HAQ: Centre for Child Rights, Delhi, Advocate Ashish Kumar, Advocate Zishaan Iskandari and Advocate Anant Kumar Asthana all representing HAQ Foundation which is an international level Delhi Based organization that is working towards “All rights for All children”.
Speaking at the occasion, Ms. Bharati Ali, said that she is thankful to the Juvenile Justice Monitoring Committee, P&H High Court and State Legal Services Authority, UT Chandigarh for coordinating with HAQ: Centre for Child Rights and organizing this capacity building program. She said that the organization looks forward to conducting similar programs in the future.
