Mahfooz (Formerly Quality Institutional Care and Alternative for Children (QIC & AC), UP

 

 

Mahfooz

(Formerly Quality Institutional Care and Alternative for Children (QIC & AC), UP)

-         A campaign for child rights since 2006

 

Growing up in an institution puts children at risk of physical, emotional and social harm. Every child has the right to grow up in a supportive family environment.  Children may be separated from their parents and placed in alternative care for various reasons like armed conflict, natural disaster and migration etc.  Still others may be separated as a result of government policies that fail to prioritize families or account for a child’s most basic need for nurturing care – a critical element of healthy growth and development.

It is with this issues and challenges in mind, the Quality Institutional Care and Alternative for Children (QIC-AC) came into existent in 2006. QIC-AC is an initiative by U.P based voluntary Organizations working in Allahabad, Varanasi, Badaun, Meerut, Lucknow, Sonbhadra, Bahraich, Mirzapur, Kaushambi and Ambadkarnagar for the rights, dignity and development of children living in the most difficult circumstances.  it is a network working for the rights, dignity and the development of children living in the most difficult circumstances. The network has been also working for the social emancipation of child labour and children in servitude in Uttar Pradesh.

The aim of QIC-AC is to promote and protect the rights of children through advocacy and networking, through strengthening the capacity of civil societies, CBOs and the government stakeholders.

 In the Annual Meeting of 2011, its members felt the need rename QIC-AC so that a common citizen in rural and urban UP understands it and connects with it easily. The group felt that the name is in English and too long to be understood by the common people. “Mahfooz” (meaning safe and secure) was the new name of QIC-AC adopted in 2011.

Mahfooz is an alliance of more than 50 organizations in Uttar Pradesh. It is the largest child protection network at the grassroot level currently active in the state of Uttar-Pradesh.

 After the formation of the network in 2006, QIC-AC conducted a primary research through collecting quantitative and qualitative data from all the  care & protection homes and remand homes  to understanding the issues of child protections across Uttar Pradesh.  through its working partner. It was found out that the conditions of the children in these homes are very pathetic and inhumane.  

QIC-AC/Mahfooz Focuses on:

·         Accelerate efforts to end the institutionalization of children, through targeted programming and advocacy.

·         Strengthen families to prevent family-child separation, and improve child protection and welfare.

·         Redirect resources and prioritize family-based alternative care within communities.

·         Improve data collection and reporting systems for children without parental care.

·         Advocacy: QIC-AC/ Mahfooz is doing regular advocacy for the implementation of the ICPS scheme, Juvenile justice act recommendations, and effective implementation of the child labor prohibition act and child marriage prohibition act. This includes drafting of first model rules for the child marriage act accepted by SCPCR.

·          Training: QIC-AC/ Mahfooz has trained para-legal volunteers, SJPUs, JJBs & CWCs members over the years for the strong implementation of child protection policies in the state.

·          Research: QIC-AC/ Mahfooz has done small and effective action research on the situation of children in CCIs, child marriage act implementation, challenges, etc

·          Monitoring state legislation: Together with other civil society actors Mahfooz has submitted suggestions on child protection policies and laws including recommendations on the trafficking bill, Juvenile justice state rules, POCSO implementation, child marriage prohibition act, and CLPRA

It is the largest network for child rights with the focus on child protection in Uttar Pradesh. It felt that the Juvenile justice is facing problems in UP.  The juvenile justice was facing many problems and trials were getting prolonged due to lack of proper police support. There was no home for the care of girls and mentally challenged children.

 

The journey is still on…