The Juvenile Justice Committee of the Supreme Court announced that it will organise the 10th National Annual Stakeholders Consultation on “Safeguarding the Girl Child: Towards a Safer and Enabling Environment for Her in India” on 11th-12th October, 2025. The Consultation aims to strengthen coordination between justice, social welfare, and community systems to protect and advance the rights of every girl in the country. The event coincides with the International Day of the Girl Child and highlights the judiciary’s commitment to creating a safe, empowered, and equitable environment for girls.
The National Consultation marks the culmination of several State-level consultations held across India throughout the year. Organised under the leadership of Hon’ble Mrs Justice B.V. Nagarathna, Chairperson of the Juvenile Justice Committee, and Justice J.B. Pardiwala, Member of the Committee, the event brings together all key stakeholders, including government officials, civil society representatives, and legal experts. The Consultation will be conducted in association with UNICEF India, reaffirming collective commitment towards ensuring the safety, health, education, and empowerment of every girl child in India.
The two-day Consultation will cover critical themes, including preventing violence against girls, ensuring timely justice for survivors, and expanding access to education, healthcare, and social protection. The first session will focus on the Right to be Born, Nurtured and Educated, followed by discussions on safeguarding girls from cybercrimes, and protection from abuse, exploitation, and violence. Sessions will also explore state-level best practices on trafficking prevention, child marriage, and child protection initiatives. On the second day, deliberations will focus on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, identifying challenges and strengthening implementation mechanisms.
The Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai, will deliver the inaugural address, alongside Smt Annpurna Devi, Minister of Women and Child Development, Justice B.V. Nagarathna, and Ms Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF India Country Representative. A special Handbook on Child Rights and the Law will be released by Justice J.B. Pardiwala.
The Consultation will see participation from Chairpersons and Members of the Juvenile Justice and POCSO Committees of various High Courts, representatives from State Women & Child Development, Social Welfare, Health, and Education Departments, as well as State Legal Services Authority members and ADGP officers dealing with crimes against women and children. The concluding session will feature inputs from Secretaries of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Education, Government of India.
The Annual Stakeholders Consultation has historically led to meaningful policy and programmatic changes. In 2024, discussions focused on protecting children with disabilities, resulting in state-level actions on reasonable accommodations and improved monitoring of residential care facilities. In 2023, the Consultation emphasised enhancing services for Children in Conflict with the Law. This year, the focus on safeguarding the girl child underscores India’s commitment to inclusive growth and child-centric justice, highlighting the judiciary, government, and civil society’s shared responsibility to protect and empower every girl in the country.
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