So No Child Walks Alone: India Launches First Certificate Course for Support Persons in Child Sexual Abuse Cases

Mumbai: In a landmark step to bridge the critical gap in child protection, the Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change (C-LAB) has launched India’s first-ever Certificate Course for Support Persons dealing with cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. This initiative follows the Supreme Court’s 2023 directive mandating the appointment of support persons in all POCSO cases to ensure holistic care and guidance for child victims and their families.

Between 2019 and 2022, the number of POCSO cases in India rose by over 300%, yet the availability of trained support persons remains woefully inadequate. The course aims to build a professional cadre equipped to provide psychological first aid, legal guidance, and emotional support, ensuring that no child has to walk the path to justice alone.

Bhuwan Ribhu, Founder of Just Rights for Children, who conducted the inaugural session, said at the launch, “Justice is not only about verdicts, but also about the dignity with which a child is treated. Support persons are the silent force holding space for healing—in courtrooms, hospitals, and police stations. This course by C-LAB is not just training; it’s systemic transformation. When done right, support persons don’t just help a child survive, they help restore the child’s belief in justice.”

The 10-week certificate course combines online and offline classes, assignments, and fieldwork. It is designed to empower support persons, social workers, and child protection practitioners with the tools to assist survivors and their families with compassion, competence, and legal awareness.

Dr. Sangita Gaur, Course Director, explained, “Despite a strong legal framework like POCSO, thousands of children remain unheard—either stuck in court corridors or hidden at home. They need informed, sensitive handling. A trained support person ensures their trauma is addressed, their rights are protected, and justice is pursued with dignity.”

She added that the course is open to current support persons, social workers, or anyone working in the child protection system.

Curriculum Highlights:
• Basics of child rights and child protection
• POCSO Act and legal procedures
• Roles and responsibilities of support persons
• Compensation and rehabilitation navigation
• Child-friendly communication and trauma-informed care
• Psychological First Aid for child victims
• Case studies, simulations, and expert-led sessions

Prominent legal experts, mental health professionals, and experienced social workers have been enlisted as faculty to guide the first cohort.

C-LAB is an initiative incubated by India Child Protection, a nationally recognised organisation working to combat child sexual abuse, trafficking, digital exploitation, and child marriage.