Hans News Service Vijayawada

Students, parents, teachers and society at large must work together to prevent child abuse, exploitation and violence against children and strive for the complete eradication of child marriages, speakers said at an awareness programme organised by the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), NTR District Branch, here on Thursday.

The programme, held at Vijaya Institute of Technology for Women, Prasadampadu, focused on “Child Abuse and Prevention of Child Marriages.” Presiding over the programme, IRCS NTR District Chairman Dr G Samaram said youth and students could play a key role as agents of social change. Child abuse and child marriage could not be eliminated through laws alone and required greater social awareness, education, strong family values and responsible civic action, he said.