NHRC, India Open House talks conclude with various consultations on the rights of sex workers and children from disadvantaged communities

Despite many safety measures, many children are still facing stigma, poverty and limited availability of essential resources, said Smt. Vijaya Bharti Sayani, Acting Chairperson, NHRC.

The discussion stressed on the urgent need for empirical data and research on their challenges, including assessing the impact of various government schemes for them.

Among other important suggestions, the emphasis has also been laid on recruitment and active deployment of trained social workers so that these children get the necessary services.

Making the name of the child’s mother mandatory on the government portal instead of the advice of the father.

The open house discussion, organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India in hybrid mode, concluded with a series of suggestions on improving the issue of human rights of sex workers and children from marginalised communities at its premises in New Delhi. The objective of the discussion is to promote a comprehensive understanding of the systemic issues at play and create actionable solutions to ensure a more equitable future for all children.

Presiding over the discussion, Smt. S. Vijay Bharti, Acting Chairperson, NHRC stressed on the need to protect the rights of sex workers and children from marginalised communities. He highlighted India’s rich cultural heritage which traditionally values the protection and empowerment of children. He cited the example of various constitutional provisions and laws for the protection of child rights. However, despite many safeguards, many children are still facing serious challenges like stigma, poverty and limited access to essential resources, he said.

Ms Bharti urged policymakers, educators and community members to support creating a supportive environment and for equitable access to education and healthcare for all children. He highlighted the important role of the NHRC in ensuring protection of the rights of all, including children, suggesting assessment of current programmes and promoting inclusiveness and equitable development for children from underprivileged sections of the society.

Earlier, NHRC Secretary General Bharat Lal, in his opening remarks, stressed on the importance of basic amenities like education and healthcare for these vulnerable children. Acknowledging the ongoing steps of the Government in this regard, he stressed on the need to give priority to the health and nutrition of children. He highlighted the disparities in child rights due to geographical and socio-economic factors.

The first session explored the rights of children of sex workers and their challenges, including social stigma, lack of access to education and healthcare, and heightened vulnerability to exploitation. In the second session, the rights of children from marginalized communities were discussed, highlighting their specific needs and barriers to accessing essential services. Finally, the discussions focused on the way forward, innovative strategies and collaborative efforts among the various stakeholders—including policymakers, NGOs, and civil society organizations—to enhance the protection and promotion of these children’s rights.

Some of the key suggestions that emerged during the discussions were as follows:

• There is an urgent need for empirical data, necessitating research focused on the wide range of challenges faced by the children of sex workers and children from marginalized communities along with an impact assessment of various government schemes;

Some of the important suggestions that came up during the discussion were:

• There is a need to assess the impact of various government schemes as well as research on the various challenges faced by sex workers and children from disadvantaged communities;

• Capacity building and awareness programmes are required for teachers, police officers, social workers and law enforcement officers to make them aware of the unique backgrounds and experiences of these children, facilitating better communication and understanding;

• Appropriate documents such as Aadhaar cards should be made available for enrolling these sex workers and their children in school and the process of obtaining their required identity and documents should be streamlined;

• The name of the mother should be provided instead of the father compulsorily on the government portal. Option to name Guardia.Director General of Inquiry Ajay Bhatnagar, Registrar (Law), NHRC Joginder Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) Sanjeev Kumar Chadha, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs Ganga Kumar Sinha, Member Secretary, National Commission for Women Smt. Meenakshi Negi, Economic Adviser Ajay Srivastava were present in the open house discussion. Smt. Nasima Khatun, Founder, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Founder, Parcham, Lalita SA, Vice President, Society for Partnership Integrated Development (SPID), Prabhat Kumar, Child Protection Expert, UNICEF, Former Professor, School of Law, Rights and Constitutional Governance School, Dr. Asha Bajpai, Former Professor, School of Law, Rights and Constitutional Governance. Chaitanya Mahila Mandali (CMM), Neena Pandey, Professor (Dr.) Paromita Chattoraj, Professor (Dr.) of the Department of Social Work, University of Delhi, Professor . read more