ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Half of world children are suffering from abject poverty with around 100 million children victims of malnutrition who need better environment and equal access to their fundamental rights.
Addressing the Universal Day event held here on Friday to commemorate Pakistan’s 25 years of signing United Nations Child Rights Convention (UNCRC) speakers stressed that all children have right to education, health, clean water, sanitation etc without any discrimination.
The moot was organized by National Child Protection Centre, Ministry of Law Justice and Human Rights (LJ&HR) in collaboration with Rozen, an non-government organization, chaired by federal minister for LJ&HR, Senator Pervaiz Rashid.
Presenting welcome note, Joint Secretary LJ&HR Humaira Azam said United Nations Child Rights Commission ensured basic right of children for all and not it is our responsibility to utilize all our resources for child welfare.
She said the government is focusing to introduce friendly laws for children and for the purpose Criminal Amendment Bill, Corporal Punishment Bill and Child Rights Commission have been prepared and moved for further process.
Furthermore, she said, Pak-SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation) Ethics Forum is an important platform for establishing collective strategy to secure children rights.
A representative of United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) sharing her remarks on the occasion said it is quite unfortunate that around 5.5 million children are forced to child labour.
She further pointed out that every girl has right to education but still a lot of work required to raise voice for their basic rights.
She said UNICEF is focusing on the crippling disease of Polio in children and more than 600,000 children are immunized under this campaign in recent past. Our endeavour is to completely eradicate this menace from the soil of Pakistan.
A representative of Rozen, Dr. Ambreen on the occasion urged that child protection centre should be established throughout the country so that vulnerable children, especially orphans, streets children and victims of extreme poverty could get security.
Special children from Al-Makhdoom centre presented a song in the event while cultural dance show by Children of Sweet Homes Pakistan was also highly appreciated.
The ceremony concluded with a colourful performance of Rights Schools children.
Officials of Ministry of LJ&HR, representative of NCPC, representatives of civil society, a large number of children from different schools attended the ceremony.
Source: APP
