A thought leader, whose pursuits and works have always suggested a major change towards society, actor Ayushmann Khurrana, due to his progressive, dialogue-initiating films and entertainers, has been voted as one of the ‘most influential people of the world’ by TIME Magazine.
He was recently appointed as UNICEF’s Celebrity Advocate for their global campaign EVAC (Ending Violence Against Children). Today, on World Human Rights Day, the actor talks about a child’s right to have a safe environment to grow up and how parents and teachers have a critical role to play in achieving this.
Ayushmann says, “Violence can and should be prevented. As parents, teachers, members of the community and duty-bearers, we all have a role to play. We need to reach out to children and help them understand that they can speak out about the abuse and the violence they face in their everyday lives to their parents or call on the helpline — ChildLine: 1098. We have to help children understand how they can protect themselves.”
He adds, “We also need to reach out to parents, friends, communities to make them aware how abuse can take place anywhere, including at home, in school, in a playground or even by people they trust. We need to help them understand the importance of changing their behaviours and responses towards violence as well as increase reporting.”
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (2018), in India, five cases of child sexual abuse are reported every hour. The National Family Health Survey reveals that one in five adolescent girls experience physical violence since the age of 15 and that majority of school children are subject to physical and mental abuse by teachers (according to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights 2012). And these are just the reported figures.
Ayushmann, as the Celebrity Advocate for UNICEF, will be reaching out to kids and families to promote awareness on this mission. He says, “My effort being a part of the UNICEF will be to reach out to maximum number of people with messages, showing them the way to end violence against all children. I am committed to using my voice, my social media platforms, my talent and my celebrity status to focus the country’s attention on the need to curb this issue immediately.”
