Across the world millions of street children face a daily struggle of abuse, hunger and exclusion, as the international community fails to realise their rights. This is not an issue that affects developing nations. The rights of street children cannot be ignored. It isn’t as though they don’t have any: the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has been signed and ratified by almost every country in the world, but these rights continue to be ignored. We call for the government to ensure the rights of street children are recognised and included in policies and legislation.
They miss out on their right to education. They are subjected to violence, and punished by cruel and inhumane methods and suffer many other forms of violence. Do we hear them when they cry? Every child deserves to be treated with respect and to be protected from violations of his or her basic human rights. All youth have the right to be free from discrimination, harassment, violence and abuse.
ANAM HAYAT
Islamabad
