KARACHI:
This refers to the World Environment Conference being hosted by Pakistan tomorrow on the occasion of the World Environment Day. Harnessing the unique opportunity, Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to ask global leadership to take concrete steps for promoting the environment to protect future generations. In this regard, we urge the PM to announce policies pertaining to the protection of children, in particular, from the environmental disasters that threaten to affect their lives.
Environmental damage is a pressing human rights challenge, which has an impact on children’s lives today and in the future. Violations of their rights resulting from environmental harm can have irreversible, lifelong and even transgenerational consequences. Children everywhere suffer violations of their rights to life, development, health, food, water, education, culture, etc because governments have failed to protect the natural environment. The impact of pollution in one place can be felt by children living far away, and climate change is unquestionably a global problem. While environmental harm affects people at any age, children are particularly vulnerable, due to their evolving physical and mental development and status within societies.
Certain groups of children, including those from indigenous, low-income and marginalised communities, are often at a higher risk which raises the question of environmental injustice. According to WHO estimates, of the 5.9 million deaths of children under five each year, 26% are attributable to the environment. Air pollution alone kills 570,000 children under five every year. But these numbers are only the tip of the iceberg. According to UN Special Rapporteur Baskut Tuncak, “there is a ‘silent pandemic’ of disabilities associated with exposure to toxics and pollution during childhood, many of which will not manifest themselves for years or decades.” This assault on children’s rights remains largely invisible while decision-makers are not held to account.
In the light of the above facts, PM Imran should announce such policies related to urban development and rural economy in which environmental challenges and climate change impacts will not hamper the lives of children. The PM should announce inclusion of environmental rights of children in the national curriculum and introduce national policy on the environment in which children should have equal representation. It is time to ensure that our children live in an environment where there are parks, safe water, improved health, and protection from the disasters that cause displacement and migration.
Najam-un-Nisa Baloch
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2021.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
