NLUO's Centre For Child Rights Celebrates 11th Foundation Day, Unveils Flagship Journal

The event was headlined by Smt. Babita Patro, Chairperson, Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR), who emphasised the importance of addressing mental health and digital safety of children. She highlighted the need to engage directly with children in their lived environments to develop effective policies and directives.

Smt. Shyni S, IPS, Additional Director General of Police, Odisha (Crime Against Women and Children Wing), underlined the presence of class and caste bias in dealing with children in conflict with law (CiCL). She called for self-awareness among stakeholders and emphasised the need for sensitivity and child-friendly approaches in law enforcement. She also raised concerns regarding gaps in the implementation of legal frameworks, including lack of clarity around diversion under the juvenile justice system.

Other dignitaries present included Shri Subhendu Bhattacharjee, Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange, Child Rights and You (CRY); Prof. Ved Kumari, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal and former Vice Chancellor of NLUO; Prof. Rangin Pallav Tripathy, Vice Chancellor (I/C), NLUO and Patron-in-Chief, CCR; and Prof. Biraj Swain, Chief Minister's Chair Professor-cum-Director of CCR, NLUO.

Prof. Rangin Pallav Tripathy highlighted the importance of sustaining institutional initiatives, while Prof. Ved Kumari spoke about the significance of the Chair Professorship on Child Rights and the integration of CCR with academic life. Shri Subhendu Bhattacharjee noted the importance of collaboration between civil society and academic institutions in strengthening child rights perspectives.

The release of Volume VII, Issue I of the journal marks a significant step in advancing child rights discourse in India. The volume includes 11 original contributions, covering areas such as juvenile justice jurisprudence, right to education, new education policy, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, and mental health. It also features the Presidential address by Hon'ble Justice Savitri Ratho, Judge, Orissa High Court and Chairperson, Juvenile Justice Committee.

The Editorial Advisory Board includes Justice Madan B. Lokur, Justice Gita Mittal, Prof. Bernd-Dieter Meier, Prof. Christopher Birbeck, and Prof. Bhabani Prasad Panda. The Editorial Board is led by Prof. Ved Kumari, along with Prof. Biraj Swain, Prof. Ravinder Barn, Dr. Frederick de Moll, Dr. Damanjit Sandhu, Dr. Asha Bajpai, and Dr. Kalpana Purushothaman.

The event witnessed participation from government officials, civil society representatives, and academia, including Dr. Santosh Rout, Shri Pritikanta Panda, Smt. Pragati Mohanty, Shri Pamod Acharya, Dr. Sandhya Rani Pal, and Mr. Udit Narayan Mishra, among others.

The Centre for Child Rights is the oldest centre of NLUO, the second oldest child rights centre among National Law Universities, and the only Chair Professorship on child rights across universities in the country. The event was organised in collaboration with Child Rights and You (CRY), with the State Bank of India as the sponsorship partner.