DCPCR releases third issue of “Children First Journal on Children’s Lives”

The third issue of Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights' (DCPCR) journal, “Children First Journal on Children’s Lives" was unveiled on Saturday by Justice Hima Kohli of the Supreme Court, along with Justice Madan Lokur of the Supreme Court of Fiji, and Chief of Education UNICEF India, Terry Durman..The third issue focuses on new challenges that have emerged over the pandemic period that could impinge on the rights of young children in terms of violence and abuse, lack of care and protection, nurturance and all-round development, as also measures to address these challenges. The theme of the third issue is “Moving On- The Pandemic & Beyond”. .The pieces published in the journal have been written by authors from University of Delhi, Ambedkar University Delhi, TISS Guwahati, Sardar Patel University of Police Jodhpur Rajasthan, Jamia Millia Islamia University, Rainbow Homes, Christ (Deemed to be University), Jawaharlal Nehru University, Nirma University, Azim Premji University, and O.P Jindal Global University. Various NGOs have made submissions as well. The primary ones include Public Health Resource Society, The Community Library Project, Room to Read India, Central Square Foundation, Udayan Care, and Azim Premji Foundation.The third issue of the Journal presents a comprehensive analysis of various aspects of children's lives, including their psycho-social health, nutrition, and the impact of abuse on them. The importance of access to early childhood education, life skills, and literature is also highlighted. The research covers different parts of the country, with submissions received from twenty states, such as Assam, Rajasthan, the National Capital Region, Bengaluru, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha.Additionally, the Journal's third issue showcases eleven paintings and nine articles written by children from Assam to Maharashtra. The Commission received 2500 entries of paintings and writings from children across the country, with nearly nineteen of them featured in the journal.Releasing the journal, Justice Hima Kohli appreciated the role of DCPCR in bringing 48,000 children back to school. The Judge also mentioned the active role Supreme Court played in rehabilitation of children who lost parent(s) during Covid. The launch event of the Journal also featured a panel discussion on the theme of "National Family Health Survey: Findings & Implications for Children". The panel comprised distinguished speakers such as Ms. K.K. Shailaja, Former Health Minister of the State of Kerala, Dr. Tarun Seem, Medico Civil Servant/Former Health Secretary of the Government of Delhi, Dr. Vandana Prasad, a renowned Paediatrician & Public Health Expert/Former Member of NCPCR, Dr Purnima Menon, a Senior Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute in Delhi, and Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya, a renowned Public Health Expert & Former Health Specialist at the World Health Organisation.The event attracted a diverse audience comprising many sitting judicial officers, Vice-Chancellors, Deans & HoDs, Academics & Professors, Think-tanks & NGOs, and several individuals from legal backgrounds. The panel discussion was moderated by Shiven Siddharth, a student from Grade IV at Delhi Public School.