From 21st to 23rd May 2025, the Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre (KMWSC) Surokhit Shaishav Project Team actively participated in a three-day training on UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child), Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and child-related laws. The event, organised by Caritas Germany at Seva Kendra, Siliguri, brought together seven other partner organisations committed to advancing child rights and protection across India.

The training served as a critical platform for strengthening the understanding of legal frameworks related to child protection and welfare. Key discussions revolved around the practical challenges faced at the grassroots level, and how effective implementation strategies can be developed in collaboration with local administrative bodies and community stakeholders.

Sessions explored the latest changes in national legislation under the BNS and the importance of aligning field-level interventions with the core principles of the UNCRC — non-discrimination, best interest of the child, right to life, survival and development, and child participation.

The training also fostered a vibrant exchange of field experiences, helping participants learn from one another’s models and innovations in addressing child vulnerabilities, early marriage, trafficking, and access to justice.

KMWSC's participation in this training reaffirms its commitment to rights-based advocacy and legally-informed programming aimed at creating safer, more just environments for children in vulnerable communities.

“Laws protect, but only when we understand, act, and uphold them together.”

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