Bias In Handling Children In Conflict With Law Must Be Addressed: Odisha ADGP
Speaking recently at the 11th foundation day celebration of the Centre for Child Rights (CCR) at National Law University Odisha, Shyni S, Additional Director General of Police, Crime Against Women and Children Wing, said entrenched prejudices often influence how such children are treated.
Bhubaneswar: Senior police officer Shyni S has flagged the urgent need to address class and caste biases while dealing with children in conflict with law (CiCL), calling for greater sensitivity and self-awareness among stakeholders in the child protection system.
Speaking recently at the 11th foundation day celebration of the Centre for Child Rights (CCR) at National Law University Odisha, Shyni S, Additional Director General of Police, Crime Against Women and Children Wing, said entrenched prejudices often influence how such children are treated. She stressed that all interventions must prioritise the “best interest of the child” and called for making law enforcement systems more child-friendly to reduce fear among minors.
She also highlighted gaps in the implementation of legal frameworks, pointing to ambiguity around diversion mechanisms under the juvenile justice system and raising concerns over certain procedural practices. Emphasising the need to rethink approaches toward adolescents, she urged reforms that align with child rights principles.
The event also marked the unveiling of the internationally indexed ‘Journal on the Rights of the Child of National Law University Odisha,’ a flagship publication of CCR-NLUO featuring 11 research contributions on themes including juvenile justice, education, mental health and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
