Violence against children is widespread and remains a harsh reality for children from all socio-economic groups in Odisha. Both girls and boys face early marriage, domestic abuse, sexual violence, violence at home and in school, trafficking and child labour. These acts of violence, abuse and exploitation have long-lasting consequences on children’s lives. India has comprehensive policies and legal framework addressing rights and protection for children, providing opportunities to ensure that all children have equal access to quality protection services like the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act (2000, amended in 2015); the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006); the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (2012), and the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act (1986, amended in 2016).  The challenge is in implementing the laws due to inadequate human resource capacity on the ground and quality prevention and rehabilitation services. As a result, thousands of children are prone to violence, abuse and exploitation.

SOVA is committed to working towards strengthening child protection systems, ending child marriage, and preventing child labour, child trafficking, violence against children, child sexual abuse and promoting community-based care and protection mechanisms. We are focused on the implementation of key child protection legislation and the promotion of practices that protect children from violence, abuse and exploitation. Prevention is central to our strategy and our programming as it is the most effective way to deal with child sexual abuse and exploitation. We work with the government on a range of support services that provide healing to victims/survivors and their families including a focus on counselling, support for school continuation and social protection.