All NGOs to be monitored by Child Protection and Welfare Bureau

No new adoptions without an order from the court

LAHORE:

The Punjab cabinet has given the green light to the rules of the Protection of Orphans and Helpless Children Act, permitting greater oversight of orphanages and other facilities to the provincial administration.

The move will allow the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) to act as a regulatory agency to supervise the institutional care provided to children across the province.

“The Punjab cabinet has approved rules for registration of organizations providing accommodation to destitute and neglected children in Punjab. Now CPWB will act as a regulatory agency to supervise the institutional care to these children in the province,” said Sarah Ahmad, Chairperson, Child Protection and Welfare Bureau Punjab on Twitter.

Moving forward, all Institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) working in the field of child protection, care and upbringing in Punjab will have to register with the CPWB. According to details available with The Express Tribune, their performance will be monitored by the regulatory agency.

Delayed since 2017, the new rules are expected to improve the quality of care provided to children in the province, particularly those who are in need of support and shelter.

“All organisations, NGOs working in Punjab, for the care, upbringing, education and health of homeless and helpless children will be monitored by the CPWB,” confirmed Ahmad, who heads the child welfare body.

“We will be monitoring their facilities for children and the SOPs they follow to provide the best possible health and education,” Ahmad added.

Under the new rules, Ahmad said, all organizations and NGOs will be required to share information related to the children with the CPWB. Rules regarding adoption will also be supervised by the bureau.

According to details provided by the department, dozens of organisations and NGOs are operating in the province. These organisations provide shelter and education to homeless children. “The key question here is that does the government have the exact details about the number of children at these facilities,” said one child rights activist. The new rules, she said, will allow the government to document the number of children at these facilities and shelters.

“Some of these organisations have been responsible in child trafficking and more,” the activist cautioned.

Each organisation, she pointed out has different rules that guards the process of adoption. “Such disparity is dangerous for the children and their future,” she added.

At the CPWB, the chairperson believes the new rules will help prevent organisations from setting their own rules. “No organisation or NGO will be able to adopt any abandoned child without the permission of the court,” said CPWB’s Chairperson, Sarah Ahmad.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2020.