British charity: Protection of children’s rights urged

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani children deserve quality education, access to basic health facilities and an appropriate living environment, said chief executive officer of Save the Children, Jasmine Whitbread, during a visit to the organisation’s emergency response programmes in Swat district.  Jasmine Whitbread is in Pakistan to visit communities in Swat, Buner and Lower Dir which have been affected by the IDP (internally displace people) crisis and the floods, said a news release issued here today. Jasmine stated that millions of children were traumatised by the floods and the conflict in the northern areas. She added that they will continue facing deprivation until and unless their rights were protected, and they were given access to healthy food, healthcare and quality education. Save the Children has reached over 3.3 million flood victims throughout Pakistan since July last year. “We are working directly with the communities to ensure that children and their families were safe and protected against disease, hunger and abuse”, Jasmine said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th,  2011.