Run For Child Protection

GHM BLOG

Youth is the backbone of any nation.
Assam's youth is ready to take the future into its hands and contribute enormously to the advancements in every field. 
With their high spirits, progressive, innovative, and undogmatic approach, they challenge and fight against society's ills.
They do not believe in old-fashioned, ridiculous norms and stand tall and strong against them. 
Let us run for the change. Let us run for the kids, for the future!

As per recent statistics, 4 out of 10 cases are crimes reported against children in Assam.
It is deplorable that the world is not safe for kids too. They are always vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and abuse. Sadly the scenario is worse for girls, and they are at higher risk of falling prey to such practices. It is heart-wrenching to know that abusers are the people they know they trust in many cases. 
The last few years have seen an explosive soar in digital technology. Covid-19 came with restrictions, and people were compelled to stay at home. Children were forced to rely entirely on digital platforms, which led to excessive screen time and minimal human interaction. The online world can be a dangerous place, as the boundary between online and offline fades, and young people are at greater risk of harm, including misuse of their private information, access to harmful content, child sexual abuse, and cyberbullying.

Call to Action on Cyber Bullying:
Cyberbullying is one of the most easily preventable crimes. We must ensure children are safe while browsing the internet. A few guidelines that can protect children from cyber abuse are as follows:
1. Providing all children with affordable access to high-quality online resources.
2. Protecting children from harm online – including abuse, exploitation, trafficking, cyberbullying, and exposure to unsuitable materials.
3. Safeguarding children's privacy and identities online.
4. Teaching digital literacy to keep children informed, engaged, and safe online.
5. Leveraging the power of the private sector to advance ethical standards and practices that protect and benefit children online.
6. Putting children at the center of digital policy and ensuring their cyber well-being.

Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse and its Aftermath:
According to NCRB crime reports, 12% of all crimes committed against children are sexual abuse. Among the victims, the proportion of girls is much higher than boys. 9 out of 10 times, the offender is known to the child.
Emotional, physical, and sexual violence and neglect have a severe, detrimental, and long-lasting impact on the mental health of children in childhood and beyond into adulthood. This mental trauma often requires professional help to fix, but most victims do not receive this due to a lack of awareness about mental health.
Mental health issues often manifest in adolescents and include impulsive, destructive, and violent behavior. Before the pandemic, an estimated 10–20 percent of young people worldwide experienced mental health challenges, with 1 in 4 children living with a parent who has a mental health condition. Before COVID-19, suicide was the second biggest cause of mortality amongst adolescents. These behavioral issues are very often met with the shaming of the victim because of the general lack of understanding of mental health in society.
Let us recognize the linkages between violence and mental health for young people. Investments in violence prevention and response and mental health and well-being need to go hand-in-hand.

Run For Child Protection:
Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future. Join the Guwahati Half Marathon on 24th April 2022 as we run together for child protection and stand up with #Youth4Suraksha to ensure our country's safety and security #ForEveryChild.
The marathon will be under two categories: Spirit Run (6 km) and Glory Run (21 km). The total cash prize pool for the marathon is INR 1.5 Lakhs. Certificates will be given to all participants who complete the marathon, and all participants of the 21km marathon will be provided with chip timers.
Reporting Time: 4:30 AM
21 km Start: 5:30 AM
6 km Start: 6 AM
Venue: Abita Indoor Stadium, near Nehru Stadium, Gandhi Basti, Sarania Hills, Guwahati
For registration and more details, visit www.techniche.org/gh.

-By Team Techniche