Education, legal awareness key to preventing child abuse and child marriage: Women’s commission chief

Education and legal awareness are essential to prevent child abuse and eradicate child marriage, said Nagalakshmi Chowdhary, chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women.

Interacting with students at a legal aid and awareness programme on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act here on Saturday, Ms. Chowdhary stressed the need to educate children about their rights and the legal safeguards available to them.

Expressing concern over the 66 cases of child marriage reported in Kalaburagi district this year, Ms. Chowdhary said poverty, financial hardship and the practice of marrying off girls at an early age contributed to the problem. She expressed that marriage was not a solution to these challenges and urged families to encourage children to continue their education and become financially independent.

She also called upon girls to speak out against abuse and injustice rather than suffer in silence. Children should report instances of abuse or pressure to enter into child marriage to their parents, teachers or the authorities concerned, Ms. Chowdhary said.

Referring to adolescence, Ms. Chowdhary said feelings of attraction were natural at that age, but young people might not fully understand the long-term consequences of their decisions. She advised students to focus on their education and future goals.

The programme was jointly organised by the District Legal Services Authority, the Karnataka State Commission for Women, the Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Organisation, New Delhi, and St. Mary’s School.