Protecting the future : PDMA chalks out strategy to protect children

Authority says children at risk of separation, abuse.

PESHAWAR: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority plans to formulate the “Child Protection in Emergency Strategy” to protect adolescents in times of calamity and against physical or sexual abuse.

This was stated in a report issued by the authority on Thursday.

“The disasters and insecure environment of the last couple of decades have negatively impacted regional development,” stated a copy of the report available with The Express Tribune. “This has resulted in deterioration in public services.”



The decision to introduce a strategy was approved during a meeting in which K-P Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Minister for Information Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani, Minister for Social Welfare Mehr Taj Roghani, PDMA Director General Amir Afaq, Secretary Relief Tariq Rasheed and Reham Khan were in attendance.

“This is the best way to reunite separated and unaccompanied children,” said Asad Qaiser. He added it was imperative to reunite such children with their families.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Relief Tariq Rasheed said when children are separated from families they are at risk of physical and sexual abuse as well as other forms of exploitation. He added children are in need of a proper strategy to ensure their protection.

Reham Khan, wife of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, said the K-P Assembly approved the Child Protection Act and PDMA chalked out a strategy to protect juveniles in any situation.

Aims and objectives

In its report, the PDMA said the purpose of the strategy was to prevent the physical and sexual abuse of children. “It is also aimed at helping children separated from their families due to a natural calamity,” it added.

According to the FATA Disaster Management Authority, over 39,000 children lost a parent and 1,700 lost both due to natural disasters. At the same time, there are over 1,000 cases of separated and unaccompanied children after the floods of 2010 swept across the province.

The PDMA report said strategic action will devise mechanisms to trace and reunite children. According to the authority, unconfirmed reports from the province suggested girls were at a greater risk of psychosocial distress due to lack of privacy and familiarity with the surroundings along with restricted mobility in an environment marred by domestic violence.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2015.