Centre for Child and Youth Justice (CCYJ)

The Centre for Child and Youth Justice advances interdisciplinary research, policy engagement, and legal advocacy on issues affecting children and young people. It focuses on rights, protection, rehabilitation, and access to justice, while critically examining state institutions and social structures. The Centre seeks to inform law reform, strengthen accountability, and promote equitable, child-centred justice systems.

About

The Centre for Child and Youth Justice (CCYJ) was established as a specialized centre within NALSAR, building on the university’s long-standing tradition of using legal education as a tool for social change. Since its inception, the Centre has anchored key discussions on child and youth justice, contributing significantly to the broader discourse on legal reform in India.

Our Work

Projects

“Access to justice for children through system strengthening on child protection issues”

The Centre for Child and Youth Justice is currently involved in a long-term project on Access to justice for children funded by Child Rights and You (CRY), a prominent NGO working for child rights in India since 1979. It addresses a critical need in India’s child protection framework. Despite existing laws and policies, children in India continue to face significant challenges, including child sexual abuse, child marriage, child labour, trafficking, etc. This project aims to bridge these gaps and strengthen the child protection framework in India. It contributes to improving the legal framework governing child protection by identifying gaps in the system and thereby suggesting necessary reforms. Ultimately, the project seeks to improve access to justice for children and vulnerable populations, aligning with India’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 16 on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Workshops

  1. A discussion cum conference on ‘Critical issues of Children & Child Protection’ was organised on 09.09.2024 at NALSAR University of Law with the Chairperson and members of the Telangana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. The principal objective of the discussion was to deliberate upon pressing issues affecting children and to formulate recommendations to be submitted to the government and the judiciary.
  2. Two discussions were held on the issue of International Parental Child Abduction (IPCA) with the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Consulate officials on 23.04.2024 and 11.12.2024 at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad.
  3. A State Level Review Program on Child Protection Mechanism in District Child Protection Units (DCPU) in collaboration with WCD Department of Telangana State was held on 04.09.2024 at Auditorium, NIMSME, Hyderabad. It was attended by more than 180 stakeholders including District Child Protection Officers (DCPOs), Legal cum Probation Officers, Child Welfare Officers, Childline workers, Village and Mandal Level Child Protection Officers and others.
  4. The Centre for Child and Youth Justice (CCYJ), NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad in collaboration with Divya Disha, organised the Children’s Day event on 14.11.2024 at the Government Primary & High School in Mudfort, Secunderabad, Telangana. During the day, we addressed children on the importance of their rights, the value of education and how they can change the world through learning and self-belief. We also engaged in interactive discussions with students to inspire their aspiration.

Clinical courses

“Child Protection and Juvenile Justice”, a clinical course was developed by Dr. D. Balakrishna, Faculty and Coordinator at the Centre for Child and Youth Justice, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. The course ran from January 3, 2025, to April 15, 2025 and was offered to IV and V year BALLB (Hons.) students during the even semester. The course enrolled twenty students, the maximum capacity for the elective program. It carried four credit hours and was structured as a clinical course, focusing on practical exposure along with theoretical learning.

The course operated on the fundamental principle that everyone bears responsibility for the safety of children and young people, regardless of their professional occupation. This philosophy permeated the course structure, which aimed to provide students with comprehensive knowledge about child protection laws and the skills necessary to protect children effectively. The students visited District Child Protection Units, State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, the Directorate of Prosecution and Divya Disha, an NGO as part of their field visits.

Training

  1. An orientation programme on the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 in collaboration with UNICEF and the Sangareddy District Police, focusing on the police’s role in child protection and establishing child-friendly corners in police stations was held on 31.08.2024 at the Office of the Superintendent of Police, Sangareddy district.
  2. An orientation programme on the POCSO Act, 2012 to enhance the understanding and effectiveness of various stakeholders dealing with child sexual abuse cases, including details on medical examinations and legal requirements, was held on 08.11.2024 at the Office of the Superintendent of Police, Sangareddy District.
  3. A three-day training programme on the preparation of Social Investigation Reports (SIR) and Individual Care Plans (ICP) was conducted for District Child Protection Unit staff across Telangana from 21.11.2024 to 23.11.2024 at Don Bosco Navajeevan, Hyderabad.
  4. A daylong state-level convergence meeting on child protection issues with a special focus on child marriage along with child labour, child trafficking, and child abuse was held on 28.03.2025 at Hyderabad Archdiocese Social Services Society, Secunderabad, in collaboration with ASRITHA, an NGO dedicated to child rights, with technical support from CPRC@CESS. The meeting was organised for key stakeholders within the child protection system, including Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs) and Supervisors, Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs), District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), Assistant Labour Officers (ALOs), Inspectors of Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs), and Child Helpline representatives from various districts of Telangana.

Publications

  1. Comparative Study of the New and Old Criminal Laws with the perspective of Children (2025) – CCYJ, NALSAR with CRY
  2. Study of the Functioning of the Observation Homes in Telangana (2019) – CCYJ, NALSAR with CESS & UNICEF
  3. Study of the Functioning of the Juvenile Justice Boards in Telangana (2018) – CCYJ, NALSAR with CESS & UNICEF
  4. CCYJ Blog – The blog of the Centre for Child and Youth Justice features articles and opinion pieces on child rights issues. The blog accepts submissions on a rolling basis throughout the year. (https://ccyj.nalsar.ac.in/blog/)