Forensis Forum Events

The Centre for Extension Services (CES) and Forensis Forum of the Post Graduate Department of Criminology and Forensic Science (CFS), School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, Mangaluru, in association with Ladyhill Victoria High School, Urwa, Mangaluru had organized a workshop for teachers on the topic “Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) held on Saturday, 17th September 2022 at 1pm in Ladyhill Victoria High School Auditorium.

Ms. Shobha D’Souza, Assistant Professor, Under Graduate Department of Social Work, School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya and member of Child Welfare Committee was the Resource Person. The session started with an activity on a Lamb and Tiger which reflected on the Unity and team work. This activity was further connected to the theme like child as Lamb, Tiger as perpetrator and the persons holding the hands together as the society. If the society joins hands together to fight against the evil of Sexual harassment, child can be safe and secured she said. Thereafter, participants were asked to close their eyes and reflect over their childhood experience with parents who gave them confidence in their life to be safe and secure.

A documentary on the life of a buffalo was displayed to the teachers which summarizes about the conflict in the life of a child at various hands such as self, family, schools, peer group, social media and so on. Everywhere child seeks to be safer but in reality child may not be safe in its own house she said. Ms. Shobha had also discussed a few cases handled by her related to the child sexual harassment and its impact on the child, relevant measures taken up for the rehabilitation.
Further, she provided more information about the POCSO Act, right of a child, offences covered under the Act which is considered as non-bailable and prescribed punishment for each. She gave an insight into the role of Child Welfare Committee in case of Children in Need of Care and Protection and stated various preventive measures to safeguard children from sexual offences. She stressed upon the role of teachers in school while handling the children, awareness on good touch and bad touch, precautions to be taken to prevent children from becoming the victims of various crimes.

Altogether, 35 teaching and non-teaching faculties of the hosting school, Sr. Maria Ujvala, Principal, Ladyhill Victoria Composite P U College, faculty and student representatives of the organizing college were present on this occasion. Under the guidance of Dr. Saritha D’Souza, Head of the Post Graduate Department of Criminology and Forensic Science cum Directors, CES, Mr. Roshan D’Souza and Mr. Joel Joseph. Asst. Professors, Student Welfare officer and faculty Coordinator of Extension activities of the department respectively, from School of Social Work, Mangaluru took an initiative to organize the workshop successfully. A total of 45 participants have benefitted from the session. Participants expressed that the session was informative and meaningfully shared the knowledge through various activities which helped them to understand the contents of the workshop easily.

Ms. Kavya, second year Post Graduate student of Criminology and Forensic Science of organizing college introduced the resource person. Teachers of Ladyhill Victoria High School Ms. Lavita delivered a vote of thanks and Ms. Sweety D'Souza compered the whole event.