Under Section 13(1) of the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights(CPCR) Act, 2005
Examine and review the safeguards provided by or under any law for the time being in force for the protection of child rights and recommend measures for their effective implementation;
Present to the State Government, annually and at such other intervals, as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards;
Inquire into violation of child rights and recommend initiation of proceedings in such cases;
Examine all factors that inhibit the enjoyment of rights of children affected by terrorism, communal violence, riots, natural disaster, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, maltreatment, torture and exploitation, pornography and prostitution and recommend appropriate remedial measures;
Look into the matters relating to children in need of special care and protection including children in distress, marginalized and disadvantaged children, children in conflict with law, juveniles, children without family and children of prisoners and recommend appropriate remedial measures;
Study treaties and other international instruments and undertake periodical review of existing policies, programmes and other activities on child rights and make recommendations for their effective implementation in the best interest of children;
Undertake and promote research in the field of child rights;
Spread child rights literacy among various sections of the society and promote awareness of the safeguards available for protection of these rights through publications, the media, seminars and other available means;
Inspect or cause to be inspected any juvenile custodial home, or any other place of residence or institution meant for children, under the control of the Central Government or any State Government or any other authority, including any institution run by a social organization; where children are detained or lodged for the purpose of treatment, reformation or protection and take up with these authorities for remedial action, if found necessary;
Inquire into complaints and take suo motu notice of matters relating to,- (i) deprivation and violation of child rights; (ii) non-implementation of laws providing for protection and development of children; (iii) non-compliance of policy decisions, guidelines or instructions aimed at mitigating hardships to and ensuring welfare of the children and to provide relief to such children, or take up the issues arising out of such matters with appropriate authorities; and
Such other functions as it may consider necessary for the promotion of child rights and any other matter incidental to the above functions.
Under section 31 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009:
Examine and review the safeguards for rights provided by or under this Act and recommend measures for their effective implementation;
Inquire into complaints relating to child’s right to free and compulsory education.
Under Section 44 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO)Act and· Rule 6 of POCSO Rules, 2012:
Monitor the implementation of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO)Act, 2012;
Monitor the designation of Special Courts by State Governments;
Monitor the appointment of Public Prosecutors by State Governments
Monitor the formulation of the guidelines described in section 39 of the Act by the State Government, for the use of non-governmental organisations, professionals and experts or persons having knowledge of psychology, social work, physical health, mental health and child development to be associated with the pre-trial and trial stage to assist the child, and to monitor the application of these guidelines;
Monitor the designing and implementation of modules for training police personnel and other concerned persons, including officers of the Central and State Governments, for the effective discharge of their functions under the Act;
Monitor and support the Central Government and State Government for the dissemination of information relating to the provisions of the Act through media including the television, radio and print media at regular intervals, so as to make the general public, children as well as their parents and guardians awar
Call for a report on any specific case of child sexual abuse falling within the jurisdiction of a CWC;
Collect information and data on its own or from the relevant agencies regarding reported cases of sexual abuse and their disposal under the processes established under the Act, including information on the following:- i. number and details of offences reported under the Act; ii. whether the procedures prescribed under the Act and rules were followed, including those regarding timeframes regarding assessment of the need for care and protection of a child by the concerned CWC in any specific case.
Assess the implementation of the provisions of the Act and to include a report in a separate chapter in its Annual Report to the Assembly.
Under Rule 17 of Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Rules 2012
Functions of the commission- The Commission shall,in addition to the functions assigned to it under caluses (a) to (j)b of sub-section (1) of Section 13,Perform the following functions,namely:-
Analyze existing law,policy and practice to assess compliance with Convention on the Rights of the child,undertake inquiries and produce reports on any aspect of policy and practice affecting children and comment on proposed new legislation from a child rights prespective.
Study state Policies that impact children and ensure that they comply with international child rights standards.
Present to the State Government,National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights and other State Commission annually and such other intervals,as the Commission may deem fit,reports upon the Working of those safeguards;
Undertake formal investigation where concern has been expressed either by children themselves or by concerned person on their behalf;
Ensure that the work of the commission is directly informed by the views of children in order to reflect their priorities and perpectives;
Promote,recpect and give serious consideration of the views of children in its work and in that of all Government Department and Organizations dealing with child;
Produce and disseminate information about child rights;
Compile and analyze data on children;
Promote the incorporation of child rights into the school curriculum,teachers training of personnel dealing with children;
Refer cases and issues of national and inter-state importance to the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights as and when required;
Make regional visits and hold public meetings at least once in every year in all regions of the State;
Call for action Taken Reports on the recommendations made to various departments and authorities;
Review the plans and programmes of the Local Self Government and relevant Government departments from the child rights perspective and make appropriate recommendations.
