Making Child Safety a National Priority

Conduct of Workshop on prevention of Child Sexual Abuse

Department of Psychology, University of Jammu and Directorate of Integrated Child

Protection Services, Jammu & Kashmir in collaboration with Muktha Foundation, NGO
based in Bangalore organized a special training workshop in the University of Jammu.
In the inaugural session Professor Arti Bakhshi, Head, Department of Psychology
welcomed the participants and impressed on the need of this kind of specialized training
workshops. The workshop was inaugurated by Professor Keshav Sharma, Dean of
Academic Affairs, University of Jammu, who was Chief Guest of the program. He in his
address highlighted the role of parents, teachers and community in general for the
prevention of Child Sexual Abuse. Professor Darshana Sharma, Dean Faculty of
Education, University of Jammu was Guest of Honour. She spoke about how most
abusers were known to the children and not necessarily strangers. Muktha foundation
which focuses on the prevention of Interpersonal Abuse and promoting Mental Health
covered different issues in relation to the prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and also
different techniques for its prevention during the session. The objective of the workshop
as part of their national campaign titled 'Bhayamukth Bharath' is to make child safety a
national priority.

Mr. G A Sofi, Mission Director ICPS, J & K in the Valedictory session spoke on the
importance of good parenting for the prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and also
highlighted the role of trained professionals in dealing with the prevention of any form of
abuse.

The facilitators of the session were Ms Ashwini N.V., Director and Ms Annette Shaju,
Psycho-educator at Muktha Foundation. The participants were Protection Officers,
Legal Officers, Social workers, Counselor and Outreach Workers of JKICPS and
scholars, and students of Department of Psychology, University of Jammu, Jammu.
Vote of thanks was presented by Mr. Junaid, Nodal officer, ICPS, J&K.

An interactive session was organized in the evening in Priyadarshini Girls Hostel for the
benefit of boarders of University Girls Hostels. Dr, Sarita Sood, Warden and Ms Richa
Sharma, Resident Warden were present on the occasion along with Prof Arti Bakhshi to
facilitate the interaction.