Complaints left pending as child rights commission remains defunct

Panaji: Govt has rendered the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, a statutory body, defunct for more than a year now by failing to appoint members and a chairperson. It had invited applications for members and the chairperson of the commission in June last year, but those who applied have not heard from govt since.

In the meantime, complainants cannot hope for any relief, with their complaints merely inwarded and a copy of the complaint sent to their parent department, the directorate for women and child development, followed by no action. There are presently 24 complaints received since the last committee completed their term on May 19, 2024, to date, which have been left pending.

With the commission not functioning, former chairperson Peter Borges said parents are landing up at his doorstep seeking solutions to online child abuse cases. “Neither schools nor parents are prepared to handle or report such cases,” he said. A recent trend he has seen is where both the accused and the victim are juveniles, and there are many cases of revenge porn also. “It’s traumatic for the child, and the family too is ashamed to report the matter,” he said. “I convince them to report this to the cybercrime cell to be able to remove the personal content posted online,” he said, adding that many people are unaware of the existence of the cybercrime cell.

“In most of the child abuse cases, complaints are not filed. It is only when blackmailing starts and becomes unbearable that the victim confides in someone who in turn reaches out to another person and then seeks help, but this happens after a long delay,” he said. One of the commission’s former members said it is a very serious issue that the commission’s work came to an abrupt end.

“A few members should have at least been reappointed to take the commission’s work forward. Selection cannot be kept pending for more than a year,” the former member said.

“The commission has powers equal to a civil court, and justice delayed is justice denied. If systems are not allowed to function, how is justice supposed to be given to women and children?” the former member asked.

SCAN Goa founder and coordinator Emidio Pinho said the commission was established to safeguard and promote children’s rights and well-being in the state of Goa.

“It has a very important role to play in overseeing and monitoring the entire implementation and enforcement of the law and schemes to ensure a safe, fair, and supportive environment for every child,” he said. “It also plays a key role in coordinating with all agencies in shaping policies that create a child-friendly society,” Pinho said. “The commission also has the powers to investigate and take up cases where the system fails to address the needs of the child,” he added.

Minister for women and Child Development Vishwajit Rane, when contacted, responded with “in process.”



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