Advocacy
Advocacy is at the heart of the Centre for Child and Youth Justice’s efforts to create a more just and equitable society for children and youth. We are dedicated to influencing policies, raising public awareness, and driving systemic change that ensures the protection and promotion of young people’s rights.
Policy Reform
We advocate for the reform of laws and policies that affect children and youth, particularly in areas such as juvenile justice, child protection, and education. Our goal is to create a legal environment that prioritizes the rights and well-being of young people.
Public Awareness Campaigns
We lead campaigns to raise awareness about the rights of children and youth, the challenges they face, and the importance of a fair justice system. These campaigns are aimed at engaging the public, media, and policymakers in meaningful dialogue and action.
Capacity Building
We work to build the capacity of stakeholders, including legal professionals, educators, and community leaders, to advocate for and implement child-friendly justice practices. Through training programs, workshops, and seminars, we empower others to champion the cause of child and youth justice.
Key Advocacy Initiatives
Child Rights Policy Advocacy
We work closely with government bodies, NGOs, and international organizations to advocate for policies that protect the rights of children. Our efforts have contributed to significant legislative changes and the introduction of new protections for vulnerable youth.
Access to Justice for All
This initiative focuses on ensuring that all children and youth, regardless of their socio-economic background, have access to the justice system. We advocate for the expansion of legal aid services and the removal of barriers that prevent marginalized youth from seeking justice.
Restorative Justice Promotion
We promote the adoption of restorative justice practices as a compassionate and effective alternative to punitive measures. Our advocacy efforts include working with schools, communities, and justice systems to implement these practices widely.
Activities and Events
Release of the book titled “Comparative Study of New and Old Criminal Laws with the Perspective of Children” during the 22nd Annual Convocation of NALSAR
The collaborative research study titled “Comparative Study of New and Old Criminal Laws with the Perspective of Children”, jointly undertaken by Centre for Child & Youth Justice, NALSAR University of Law and Child Rights and You (CRY), was formally released during the Twenty Second Annual Convocation of NALSAR University of Law held on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at campus in Hyderabad.
The study was unveiled in the presence of: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai, Chief Justice of India; Shri A. Revanth Reddy, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Government of Telangana; Hon’ble Mr. Justice P.S. Narasimha, Judge, Supreme Court of India; Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sujoy Paul, Acting Chief Justice, High Court for the State of Telangana and Chancellor, NALSAR University of Law; Shri Amit Yadav, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India and Prof. Srikrishna Deva Rao, Vice-Chancellor, NALSAR University of Law.
The study offers a comprehensive yet accessible guide to the new statutes, comparing them with the old ones in the context of children. The study includes a section-wise tabular comparison of the three old and new criminal laws. It examines 44 sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 ; 24 sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023; and 5 sections of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. These sections are systematically divided into chapters and parts for clarity and ease of understanding.
Program on Access to Justice for Children in Conflict with Law at NALSAR
Dr. D Bala Krishna, Coordinator & Head for Centre for Child & Youth Justice, NALSAR University of Law took a session on ‘Overview of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 & JJ Model Rules, 2016’ for the staff of Department of Juvenile Welfare, Correctional Services & Welfare of Street Children, Government of Telangana program organised at Nalsar University of Law on 18 July, 2025.
Aishwarya Sinha, Research Assistant, Centre for Child & Youth Justice, NALSAR University of Law took a session in the evening on the ‘Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006’, and the ‘Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986’ in the program.
Children’s Day program
The Centre for Child and Youth Justice (CCYJ), NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad in collaboration with Divya Disha Foundation organized a Children’s Day event at the Government Primary & High School in Mudfort, Secunderabad, Telangana on 14 November, 2024 from 10 am to 2:30 pm. The program happened in two sessions, the morning session was held for the primary section students and the afternoon session was held for the high school students. The day started with a cultural program by the Primary section students, followed by a speech on children’s day.
Thereafter, the research assistants, CCYJ Aishwarya Sinha and Raja Chandra, addressed children on the importance of their rights, the value of education and how they can change the world through learning and self-belief. To make their day special and celebrate them, CCYJ presented children with notebooks and snacks.
The afternoon session started with the cultural program by the high school children. Following this, an interactive discussion was held with the students to inspire them to pursue their aspirations, regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds. It was also joined by Mr Isidore Phillips, Director of Divya Disha foundation and Dr. D Bala Krishna, Coordinator and Head of Centre for Child & Youth Justice, NALSAR University of Law.
Subsequently, CCYJ also presented the high school students with notebooks and snacks. At the end, the children honored us with flower bouquets, expressing their heartfelt gratitude for our presence at their school.
Discussion on International Parental Child Abduction with US Consulate
The discussion on International Parental Child Abduction (IPCA) was held on 11 December 2024, from 11 AM to 1 PM at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad.
Delegates from the U.S. Government, including Mr. Adam Hall, Chief of US Citizen Services and representatives from the US Embassy and Consulate General joined NALSAR’s Vice-Chancellor, faculty, and research assistants to discuss legal challenges related to IPCA.
The agenda focused on the implications of India not being a signatory to the Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and explored avenues for cooperation and solutions to address rising cases of IPCA involving India and the U.S.
The meeting began with Dr. D. Balakrishna introducing participants and providing an overview of the Indian legal framework. Prof. Srikrishna Deva Rao emphasized NALSAR’s commitment to social justice and legal aid, aligning with Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer’s vision.
Subsequently, Mr. Adam Hall outlined the significance of the Hague Convention in resolving cross border child abduction cases efficiently, contrasting it with the complexities and delays of the Indian judicial system. The U.S. delegation highlighted challenges, including limited awareness among Indian authorities and logistical hurdles stemming from cultural and legal differences.
The discussions touched on specific issues such as gender biases in Indian custody laws and the disparity between U.S. and Indian approaches to custody disputes. Suggestions included raising awareness about the Hague Convention’s benefits, contributing specialized training for legal professionals and developing mediation cells to handle sensitive custody disputes.
The meeting concluded with a consensus on the need for collaborative approach to address international parental child abduction issues, including research, training and advocacy. The U.S. delegation expressed its commitment to the continued collaboration with NALSAR and Indian stakeholders to resolve IPCA cases effectively. The session ended with an exchange of mementos.
CRY Officials Visit to NALSAR
CRY officials, including Ms. Puja Marwaha, CEO of CRY (Child Rights and You), Mr. Subhendu Bhattacharjee, Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange at CRY, and Ms. Ragini Pant, Associate General Manager at CRY visited NALSAR University of Law on the occasion of its 21st Convocation on September 28, 2024. During their visit, the officials engaged with the Centre for Child and Youth Justice, NALSAR to discuss the ongoing work related to child rights in the state of Telangana. The discussions focused on identifying gaps in the current initiatives and developing future plans of actions to strengthen child protection efforts in the region.
How You Can Support Our Advocacy:
- Join Our Campaigns: Participate in our advocacy campaigns and help spread the word about the importance of child and youth justice.
- Partner with Us: Collaborate with the CCYJ on advocacy initiatives that align with your organization’s goals.
- Donate: Your financial support can help us expand our advocacy efforts and reach more children and youth in need.
Stay Informed: Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates on our advocacy work, upcoming campaigns, and opportunities to get involved.
Contact Us
Ph: 9948278928, 9704166788, 040-23498104,437
Email: dbkbalu2@gmail.com , registrar@nalsar.ac.in
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