GANDERBAL, AUGUST 17: District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Ganderbal, under the chairmanship of Abdul Nasir, Chairman, DLSA Ganderbal, and under the guidance and supervision of Sheikh Babar Hussain, Secretary, DLSA Ganderbal, organised a legal awareness programme on the NALSA Child-Friendly Scheme, 2024 at Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Saloora, Ganderbal.
The programme was conducted with the objective of sensitising students about their legal rights and creating awareness regarding child-friendly access to justice, protection and legal assistance available to children.
Adv. Bilal Ahmad Bhat and Adv. Burjeena Hameed, Members of the Legal Services Unit for Children (LSUC), sensitised the students about various legal rights of children, protection from abuse, exploitation and violence, and the importance of ensuring a safe, secure and child-friendly legal environment.
During the programme, Adv. Bilal Ahmad Bhat elaborated upon the role of Legal Services Authorities in providing free legal aid and assistance to children, particularly those belonging to vulnerable and disadvantaged sections of society. He also apprised the students about the avenues through which children can seek legal assistance and protection whenever required.
Adv. Burjeena Hameed highlighted the fundamental rights of every child to dignity, care, protection and access to justice, while emphasising the collective responsibility of parents, teachers, institutions and authorities in safeguarding children from abuse, exploitation and violence.
The students were encouraged to speak up against any form of abuse or exploitation and to approach their parents, teachers, police authorities or Legal Services Institutions whenever they require help, protection or legal assistance.
The programme concluded with an interactive session, wherein the students actively participated and raised queries concerning their legal rights, protection mechanisms and available legal remedies. Their queries were appropriately addressed by the resource persons.
The programme was appreciated by the school authorities and students and served as a meaningful initiative towards strengthening child-friendly access to justice, legal empowerment and awareness among children in accordance with the objectives of the NALSA Child-Friendly 2024.
