A three-day capacity building programme was concluded on Wednesday at Police Academy Udhampur for 40 Special Juvenile Police Officers, Child Welfare Police Officers, Sub-Inspector trainees and Deputy SPs on Juvenile Justice Act 2015. Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 was also deliberated upon by the experts. Both legislations are applicable to Union Territory of J&K from ‘day of appointment'.

The first-ever training on Juvenile Justice Act 2015 was conducted under the patronage of Dr SD Singh Jamwal, Director SKPA Udhampur. The training was inaugurated by the SSP Udhampur, Rajiv Pandey, who stated that the training has been organized very timely and the police officers would require upgrading their knowledge and skills on issues concerning children. "Juvenile Justice is also one of the most feasible approaches to crime prevention. Hilal Bhat, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF while addressing the participants stated that the police personnel are working in difficult circumstances and the need to learn and apply Juvenile Justice Act 2015 is more compelling in J&K. The sessions were delivered by highly experienced resource persons including K Gururaja from Karnataka, a senior trainer; Anant Ashthana, Child Rights Lawyer from Delhi; Dr Karrar Hussain, Child Psychiatrist from IMHANS Kashmir and Dr Mahesh Koul, Consultant JKIMPARD.

The training covered a wide range of topics including provisions enshrined in these legislations, procedures to be adopted by the police personnel, handling children with sensitivity, Gender Sensitive Policing, shaping the perception of Public about Police, Issues and challenges of missing children and child labour, psychological factors underlying child delinquency and the role of District Child Protection Units, ChildLine and NGOs with respect to Children in Conflict with Law. The course was validated by Mohan Lal, Assistant Director Outdoor, SKPA Udhampur. The training was organized in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). This was the first time the SKPA has organized training with UNICEF.