IndiaCSR News Network
NEW DELHI: Jagran Pehel and UNICEF office of Uttar Pradesh have entered into a partnership to address the issue of child marriage in the state of Uttar Pradesh. A partnership was signed between the two organizations in Lucknow. This project will be implemented in 6 districts of UP (Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Bareilly and Moradabad) and the project period is June to November 2015.
This campaign was conceived due to serious concerns about the violation of child rights as in Uttar Pradesh. Despite several efforts, child marriage is still a matter of great concern.
Overall, mean age at marriage has been showing a rising trend in India and Uttar Pradesh in particular. Media plays an important role in shaping society’s views and influencing the way people think and behave. Media raises awareness, influences behavior and generates public opinion.
The goal of the project is to engage key stakeholders of the society (Media, CSOs and Government) in a meaningful dialogue on child marriage issues, bring the issue to the forefront and thereby reducing crime against children in Uttar Pradesh. The project shall reach 6 districts (Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Moradabad, Varanasi and the state capital of UP, Lucknow).
The project has the following major components:
a. E-Platform for knowledge building and sharing,
b. info kit for the journalists with information on child marriage and child marriage issues,
c. Knowledge Building & Sharing amongst the Editorial board & journalists of Dainik Jagran and
d. Media Tracking. The project aims to sensitize and advocate with key stakeholders on the issue of child marriage so that there is an increased responsive behavior amongst stakeholders in the society who shall take proactive action to address child marriage issues.
Upon signing the agreement, Niloufar Pourzand – Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Uttar Pradesh said, “Child Marriage is not only a violation of child rights but it deprives a child of childhood and the opportunity to live joyful life. The project is a positive initiative undertaken by Jagran Pehel and UNICEF is proud to be partner in this campaign”
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Anand Madhab – CEO, Jagran Pehel said that the project is an effort to annihilate social evils such as child marriage and it is a matter of great pleasure that UNICEF has agreed to support it. Madhab mentioned that, Pehel will also take Commission for Protection Child Rights Commission and other important organizations on board which are working in this area.
