Campus Times | Lucknow 

Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU) has set up a Centre for Child Rights on its campus, marking a significant institutional initiative aimed at strengthening research, capacity building and evidence-informed advocacy on issues affecting children.

The multidisciplinary centre was inaugurated by former Supreme Court judge Justice (Retd.) Madan B Lokur during the universitys two-day national consultation, Putting Children First: From Policy to Practice — Commemorating 10 Years of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

The consultation, which concluded on Sunday, brought together child rights activists, civil society organisations, Juvenile Justice Board members, lawyers, academics, researchers, students and officials from Uttar Pradeshs Women and Child Development Department to examine the implementation of the 2015 Act.

Discussions focused on key stages of the juvenile justice process, including a childs first interaction with the system, bail and pre-inquiry challenges, assessment procedures in cases involving possible transfer to the adult criminal justice system, and issues related to rehabilitation and reintegration.

Dr Kumar Askand Pandey, Associate Professor at RMLNLU, said the new centre would prioritise data evaluation and research. It is also expected to produce policy briefs, handbooks, standardised tools and periodic reports on the status of child rights and juvenile justice in Uttar Pradesh.

The university also plans to develop postgraduate diploma programmes for professionals working in the child rights sector, subject to requisite approvals.

At present, RMLNLU offers child rights and related laws as an elective for LLB students specialising in criminal law in the eighth to tenth semesters. A similar elective is available to LLM students specialising in criminal law.

With the new centre, the university aims to build a child-sensitive, rights-based and evidence-driven ecosystem in which children are heard, protected and provided meaningful access to justice, care and opportunities.