A national campaign "20 to 20: Protect Us, provide Us, involve Us" amid approval of the Child Protection Bill, ratification of Minimum Care Standards in institutions and for the effective implementation of ban on corporal punishment to protect children from all forms of violence, abuse and neglect was launched here on Wednesday.
It was organised by "Save the children and plan Pakistan" to mark the world Children Day celebrated every year on November 20. Country Director of Save the Children, UK, Meledon Wright; Country Director, Plan International, Haider Waseem, senior officials and representatives of civil societies were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Meledon Weight said: "Children are our precious assets. But it is unfortunate that the world statistic has shown a black picture of the children throughout the world." She said that children had the right to have a safe environment as well quality education to build their personality and future.
She further said it was the right of the children to be protected by national as well international laws. "Pakistan has made steady progress to protect and fight for the children rights and the Children Protection Bill, drafted in 2006, is a great example in this regard, but it needed more efforts," she added.
On Thursday (November 20, 2008), the convention would mark its 20th year, but Pakistani children were still awaiting fulfilment of the state's commitment to guarantee their rights, she added. Hassan Saadi, speaking next, said that the convention on the rights of the children was adopted by the UN General Assembly on November 20, 1989, while 192 countries had ratified it.
He said that like other countries, Pakistan had also ratified the UNCRC in 1991, but unfortunately the Child Protection Bill was not yet presented in the National Assembly. Haider Waseem said that more than 70.6 million children were living without effective legislation to safeguard their rights and protect them from abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation.
He further added that more than 2,300 children were reported to be sexually abused, while more than 5,200 children were reportedly the victims of abuse and violence during 2007. He said: "Our focus would be to stop corporal punishment to protect children in educational institutions of the country."
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