Balochistan

Province’s first child protection unit starts operations

Unit set up in collaboration with Unicef and Social Welfare Department

Our Correspondent February 11, 2020

Provincial minister Asadullah Baloch inaugurates child protection unit in Quetta. PHOTO: INP

QUETTA: Minister for Social Welfare and Human Rights Mir Asadullah Baloch has inaugurated Balochistan’s first child protection model unit that will ensure the safety of children in Quetta.

“Implementation of the Child Protection Act is aimed at bringing justice to children, who are victims of sexual and physical abuse, deprivation and oppression,” said Baloch while inaugurating the unit.

The unit is set up in collaboration with Unicef and Social Welfare Department.

Former minister Roshan Khurshid Brocha, Social Welfare Director-General Ahsanullah, a large number of officers and representatives of NGOs and civil society attended the ceremony.

The minister expressed happiness over the implementation of the Child Protection Act, which was passed in 2016 and said the law became possible due to the important role of Unicef and Social Welfare Department.

Baloch said protecting children is our Islamic and national duty.

Saving Faisalabad’s street children from abuse and self-destruction

"The Social Welfare Department and departments of health, education, labour as well as civil society and parents should play their role [in ensuring the safety of children]," he added.

He said, "If the society won’t give children their rights, the children can become a tool of the criminals. This situation can affect the entire society. The policymakers should think beyond the individual and personal interests for the whole society," Baloch said.

Social Welfare Department Secretary Abdul Rauf Baloch said the department, in partnership with Unicef, is taking every possible measure to ensure that children get their basic rights.

“We will need the support of all stakeholders of society," he added. On the occasion, Unicef Country Representative Aida Grima said the organisation will continue to support every positive initiative in Balochistan.

Other speakers said child protection units would be opened soon in other districts for effective implementation of the Child Protection Act. Later, Mir Asadullah Baloch also distributed shields among Unicef country representative and others.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2020.