The Ombudsperson for children’s annual report was introduced in Parliament last Tuesday. The report outlines 184 complaints received by the Ombudsperson, Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra, and shows that the majority of suffering children come from deprived homes. Hence, she recommends that mentors be mobilized to help them.

The ministry of Women’s rights and Family welfare would be responsible for their appointment and training. The latter would also have to commit to a code of conduct. This measure will not be applicable to children exposed to dangers at home as they need more support than mentors or foster families.

The Ombudsperson believes that legislation should be reviewed concerning abandoned children. At the moment, parents keep their authority upon the children they have abandoned. She also thinks there should be a census of abandoned children. There should also be a guardian to care for them until they are officially adopted.

The report also recommends that one or several family courts be set up to deal with civil cases such as divorce or child custody as well as penal ones for crimes perpetrated by children.

A prime minister’s children’s fund has already been set up with Rs 1 million on the account. As an encouragement, people contributing to the fund will qualify for income tax exemption.

On 30th of November, the Ombudsperson should go to Geneva as she has been appointed by the United Nations to sit on an experts’ editorial committee led by Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, to undertake a study on violence against children on a world scale. The report will be published in 2006.