Overview

CRG receives numerous complaints of suspected cases of travelling sex offenders, as well as cases of abuse within the community. We provide assistance to child victims and advocate for changes in protocols and laws.

Assistance to child victims

CRG assists complainants who approach the organisation directly, or are referred by concerned citizens. We also assist victims and the prosecution during trial proceedings at the Children’s Court. Since the Goa Police set up its Women and Child Protection Unit in 2004, the police has asked CRG to assist with a number of cases of child abuse.

From April 2006 to March 2009 CRG ran a Child Protection Cell (CPC), comprising a case coordinator, a counsellor and a legal officer, to serve as a rudimentary Victims’ Assistance Unit (VAU). We saw this as a stop-gap measure till the state set up Victims’ Assistance Units under the Goa Children’s Act. It gave CRG first-hand knowledge of the changes in protocols that were required. Unfortunately, owing to a lack of funding, we were unable to sustain this initiative. Though is the duty of the State to set up Victims' Assistance Units, no VAU has been set up to date.

CRG continues to assist victims in the Children’s Court and take up cases of child abuse referred by community members, schools, the police or any other agency. But its focus is on the implementation of the Goa Children’s Act. CRG also works with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in planning the rehabilitation of victims admitted to Apna Ghar, the government home for children in need of care and protection.

Cases handled from April 2010 to March 2011