In follow up to the Consultation held in Mumbai on 26 June 2006 on the dissemination and adoption/application of the (i) Regional Protocol on Minimum Standards; (ii) Regional Victim/Witness Protection Protocol; and (iii) Regional Resource Book on Livelihood Options, ATC-Prerana jointly with the Maharashtra State Commission for Women convened a meeting with the members of the State Child Welfare Committee (CWC) who represented Mumbai and districts such as Jalgaon., Kolhapur, Parbhani, Latur, Pune, Ahmednagar, and Thane. In her key note address, Ms. Sanjivani Kutty, Member Secretary of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, referred to the need acutely felt by many service providers for minimum standards and guidelines for victim care and protection which until present had been unavailable in the State. In this context she welcomed the two Regional Protocols and encouraged their optimum utilization for the provision of quality victim care and protection - highlighting CWC members' responsibility in this regard.

Ms. Anjali Gookarn, member of the Mumbai CWC, joined in urging the practical application of the two protocols by shelter home authorities and those primarily engaged in assisting victims in their quest for justice. Pointing to several provisions in the Juvenile Justice Act, Dr. Satish Patil, Chairperson of CWC Kolhapur, said that both Regional Protocols - on Minimum Standards and on Victim/Witness Protection - could be used as tools for the effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act.

Recommendations resulting from the Meeting:

•	Training of Members of the CWC in relevant provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act; sections in the Indian Penal Code and the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act as well as corresponding directives and good practices so that they would be better equipped to guide the application of the two Regional Protocols.
•	Translation into Marathi of the two Protocols for wider dissemination and implementation.