CACL to address nation on child rights on Nov 20

Kolkata, Aug 10 (UNI) To ensure every right to children, especially the deprived ones, Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL) will hold for the first time a national convention in this regard from November 20 at Bhubaneswar.

CACL national convenor Ranjan Mohanty told UNI here today that about more than 3000 children including majority labourers, would participate in the three-day convention to advocate rights for themselves.

CACL, a nationwide network, has its presence in 21 states with more than 6000 organisations involved with it.

Mr Mohanty said chidren were the main protagonists in the process of eradicating the social menace from the society.

''Children are the citizens of any country and they should have every right to express their views and speak for themselves,'' he said adding the convention would highlight the plight of children working in hotels, restaurants, brick kilns and as domestic workers.

The three-day long jamboree would help these children interact with the school going children and sensitise on the issues of child rights.

''We want to pressurise the government as well as the public to release and rehabilitate the children employed with exploitation,'' Mr Mohanty said.

According to 2001 census data, about 1,26,66,377 children are forced to work by their parents, Mr Mohanty said adding that CACL wants to appeal to these people not to consider children as property.

UNI