Child Rights Clinics
Home Child Rights Clinics
Associate Director: Ms. Ashwini Naik
Aims
The Child Rights Clinic of V.M. Salgaocar College of Law is the first clinic of its kind in the State of Goa which brings the law students and the children of the community closer together. Established with the avowed objective of building a ‘child-friendly’ society in the State. The motto of the Clinic is – “WHERE CHILDREN ARE INSPIRED TO DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS”. The Clinic steers and inspires children to defend their rights. The Clinic is a part of the clinical legal education program of the college aimed at molding law students into professionally competent and socially responsible citizens.
The Clinic works in close association with the Department of Women and Child Development, Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Children’s Court Juvenile Justice Board, Child Welfare Committee, Goa State Legal Services Authority, Victim Assistance Unit of the State and all stake holders to strengthen the child protection system in Goa. As part of academic excellence, the Clinic also collaborates with leading foreign universities for sharing experiences and best practices on child protection systems. Since its inception, the Clinic has done commendable work in the field of Child Rights. A lot of awareness was created through talks to school students, parents, teachers and general public and street plays which were performed in the different parts of Goa. The work was highly appreciated and CRC was bestowed with the prestigious HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS’ COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD 2019 on 29th August 2019.
The Clinic is a live clinic where the students under the guidance of their faculty, offer legal assistance, and advice and facilitate access to justice for children whose rights have been violated. Students of the clinic are trained in various aspects of child laws and are given practical exposure to the application of such laws. They also receive training in providing legal and para-legal services to children or the latter’s parents/guardians in court proceedings. Students also have the opportunity to have a first–hand experience of the procedure followed in the Children’s Court/Juvenile Justice Board and the other quasi-judicial bodies for the protection and welfare of children. Besides training, students also get an opportunity to undertake research and assist in the drafting of legal documents concerning children. Students are selected as a part of their training programme based on their interests and commitment. The Faculty-in-charge oversees the functioning of students and offers advice, guidance, and support to them.
The Clinic is more than an outreach program for children. While it facilitates access to justice for children, it also creates awareness among children about their rights and the measures available for their protection. It also provides an excellent learning opportunity for law students who are familiarized not only with child laws but the procedure and the justice-delivery agencies for children.
More importantly, the Clinic also provides a number of benefits to various sections of society. The Clinic provides referral services to children whose rights are violated and assists the parents/guardians of such children with advice and compliance with necessary formalities. Apart from legal advice and assistance, the Clinic undertakes the audit of child laws and research activities. The Clinic focuses mostly on school-related violations and abuse in familial environments but also participates in cases involving the well–being of children.
The Clinic works in close association with the Victim Assistance Unit of the State, the Children’s Court, Juvenile Justice Board, Child Welfare Committee, the Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Goa State Legal Services Authority, and other child-justice delivery agencies in the State of Goa.
As part of academic excellence the clinic collaborates with leading foreign universities for sharing experiences and best practices. The college has signed a MOU with University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney Australia establishing the Child Rights Comparative Clinical Development Programme.
Approach:
The Clinic functions regularly at the College under the guidance and supervision of the faculty. The Clinic liaises with the Children’s Court, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and other child–protection agencies for addressing child protection issues effectively.
Students are required to submit a report on each of their learning sessions.
Students who are enrolled with the Clinic are encouraged to learn to use their skills and knowledge to assist children in achieving justice and reaching a solution to their problem.
Activities:
ACTIVITY 1- CHILDREN’S WEEK CELEBRATIONS
Held between: 18-22 November, 2021
Summary: As part of the Children’s Week celebrations across India, the Child Rights Clinic decided to spread awareness amongst Children in Goa throughout the week through various activities. Under the aegis and tutelage of the faculty incharges, the student members enrolled in the three-year degree programme of the college decided on activities to be conducted as part of Children’s Week. Members in pairs and individually engaged with underprivileged children in and around their localities and nearby markets and interacted talks on safety of children, their right to education, child labour, sexual health and good sanitation habits with focus on state and central laws made for the protection of children.
ACTIVITY 2- WEBINAR ON ‘RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND THE PANDEMIC’
Held On: 18th December, 2021.
Nature of Activity: ‘Guest Lecture on Rights of Children and the Pandemic’
Guest Speaker: Prof. (Dr.) Asha Bajpai, Founding Dean, School of Law, TISS, Mumbai
