LAHORE – The federal government should introduce an effective protection system for children and the Punjab government should give priority to children’s issues, speakers of a workshop organised by Sahil in collaboration with Action Aid on effects of the 18th Constitutional Amendment on children said on Tuesday.
Punjab Assembly (PA) Deputy Speaker Rana Mashood was the chief guest while Punjab CM’s Advisor Zakia Shahnawaz presided over the workshop. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Amna Butter, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Secretary General IA Rehman, Senior journalist Mujibur Rehman Shami, Sahil Executive Director Manizeh Bano, HIV/AIDS Action Aid Policy Officer Aashima Hussain, Punjab Social Welfare Department Programme Director Abdul Quddus Akhtar, UNICEF Child Protection Officer Afshan Tehseen and SPO Regional Head Salman Abid also attended the event.
MPAs could play a very effective role for introduction of effective legislation on protection of children, especially from all kinds of abuse and exploitation, the speakers said. Mashood said that Pakistan was among 20 countries, which had signed and ratified the UNCRC. The constitution empowers the state to take special provisions for protection of children, he said. There is a great need for joint efforts of NGOs working on children rights and the government should take steps for protection of rights of children, Mashood said. The PA deputy speakers said that his office is open for NGOs working on child rights and he would try his best to brighten the future of Pakistan.
IA Rehman said that in the 18th Constitutional Amendment, education was declared as a right of the child, which was a positive step but the matter of concern is that uniformity of rights be assured in every part of the country, he said. Rehman said that growing violence against children reminds us of importance of legislation and mechanisms for their protection.
Manizeh Bano shared in detail child protection systems used by school administrations, parents, medical professionals, police and law enforcement agencies, shelter homes and community members. Mujibur Rehman Shami said that the media should play a vital role to raise awareness on child rights among the masses. He said that the Punjab government should focus on increasing quality of education in the province. Zakia Shahnawaz, in her concluding remarks, said that the Punjab CM is very interested in reducing problems of children.
