Only united efforts can save children: Satyarthi

Only the collective efforts of law enforcers, NGOs and people can save children from human traffickers, Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi said Sunday.

Child trafficking was one of the worst forms of human rights abuses, he told a workshop here organised by the National Security Guard Wives’ Welfare Association.

The 60-year-old Satyarthi was named winner of the 2014 Nobel prize for peace along with teenager Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan.

The function was held at Manesar, some 20 km from Gurgaon.

“To save India, we will have to save the childhood of our children from every section of the society. The goal can be achieved only by collective efforts,” Satyarthi said.

He said Haryana was counted as one of the developed states of the country but it accounted for a large number of cases of trafficking of young females.

He gave an example of a young woman in Sonipat district trafficked from a north-eastern state who was “sold” by a man who claimed to be her husband.

He favoured a stringent law for the safety children in the country and made a strong appeal to “Save the Childhood” of every child.

Satyarthi said it was imperative that the society takes care of the right to education, health and freedom of all children.

Satyarthi has worked for child rights for over 30 years through the Bachpan Bachao Andolan, an NGO which is credited with freeing over 80,000 children from bonded labour across India.

He lauded the working and ideology of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The event was attended by NSG Director General J.N. Choudhury, his wife and several NSG personnel and NGOs besides scores of children.

(IANS)