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Every child has a right to survive in a society that ensures protection and their overall growth and development, both physical and mental. Since 1990, PECUC has been working towards promotion and protection of Child Rights. In the history of human rights, the rights of children are the most ratified. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) defines Child Rights as the minimum entitlements and freedoms that should be afforded to every citizen below the age of 18 regardless of race, national origin, colour, gender, language, religion, opinions, origin, wealth, birth status, disability, or other characteristics.
These rights encompass freedom of children and their civil rights, family environment, necessary healthcare and welfare, education, leisure and cultural activities and special protection measures. The UNCRC outlines the fundamental human rights that should be afforded to children in four broad classifications that suitably cover all civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights of every child: Right to Survival, Right to Protection, Right to Participation and Right to Development.
PECUC has been acting as a leading advocate and resource centre for the rights of children, guided by the framework of United Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), 1989.PECUC focuses on Significant increases in civil society participation in ensuring rights of children are upheld and State is held accountable and responsive to social welfare/ security measures and child rights. PECUC focuses also on Children’s right to education is made a reality for all especially the underprivileged, Right of children to play and recreation ,Significant decrease in child labour, Significant improvement in child nutrition, health and well being, Right of children to early childhood care and education ,Effective mechanisms to prevent any form of abuse of children, prevention of child marriage, trafficking & exploitation of children, Effective mechanisms to check/prevent Distress migration /forced migration, Protective and safe space/environment for children in place, Children aware of their rights, redressal and protection mechanisms and have forums to express and participate in realizing their rights, Children’s ecological rights respected through protection and conservation of cultural and biological diversity. Strong and effective alliance of NGOs, local self government institutions, media, educationists and teachers unions and government departments and functionaries established and capacitated to deal with the issue of child rights and protection.
PECUC also developed innovative models through its grass root interventions in Odisha, Shradha Abhiyan promoted, popularized and adopted in all field project areas of PECUC , PECUC play a lead role to: Strengthen and build civil society networks and alliances for advocacy and action on child rights, Establish strong working relationships with. Law Enforcement Agencies, Policy Makers, Media, Educationists and Service Providers, Networks and alliances strengthened and capacitated to create community awareness, advocacy with Government institutions at all level, dissemination of best practices from networks for inclusion in state educational systems, develop structures and systems in coordination with networks and alliances, Campaign and public education movements at different level of operation ,Legal aid services, use of RTI, PIL and other means under framework of law,Human Resources – skilled in –Advocacy, networking, Training, Research and documentation, Management, Financial management, programme designing, monitoring and evaluation etc. ,Infrastructure strengthened and Financial Resources generated,Linkages with organizations and individuals for areas of special expertise such as legal, psychiatric/ psychologist and other services required for child protection ,Centre for Child Rights capacitated as nodal resource agency on child rights in the region, Skill development programme for Adolescents including PWDs ,PECUC would work on both institutional and non-institutional care of Children.
PECUC works towards protection of rights of every child through consistent activities for realization of survival, development, protection and participation rights of children. To carry forward the mandate, PECUC undertakes many strategic interventions like setting up online Child Right Resource Centre, Child Rights Resource Centre and Child Development Centre at village level, i.e. Shradha Bhawan; Shradha Abhijan – a campaign for love, affection, care, protection and education, formation of children collectives (child rights club) and child right protection committee; Campaign for right to education, eradication of child labour menace; Campaign against child trafficking, promoting child health, ending violence against children, preventing child marriage, child abuse, promotion of inclusive education; leadership development; promotion of child reporters, policy advocacy through network and alliances; strengthening of infrastructure; life skill education, skill development training programme for adolescents and so on.
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