Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh), April 30 (IANS) There are several laws to protect the rights of children in India but what is required is effective enforcement of these rights, prominent members of judiciary said here Saturday.

‘There are laws for children in India but the challenge is to enforce them. Child is the supreme asset of the nation,’ Justice Rakesh Saxena of Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur told the symposium on ‘Child Rights and Law’.

Several district judges, civil society organisations and state government departments are participating in the two-day symposium organised by Human Rights Law Network in partnership with Unicef office for Madhya Pradesh and the state department for women and child development.

The aim is to sensitise judiciary and senior government officials and to explore ways and means for strict implementation of these laws, said a Unicef official.

Justice S.K. Gangele of Gwalior bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court emphasised the need for effective implementation of laws related to child rights at the ground level.

‘There is a need to engage workers at the grassroots level in the implementation of these laws,’ he added.

Tania Goldner, chief of Unicef field office for Madhya Pradesh, said: ‘There is an urgent need to bring in higher level of enforcement and strengthen implementation of laws and schemes to let children enjoy their rights.’