Children cry out for their future

Activists highlight dismal state of child protection in Sindh

KARACHI/NAWABSHAH:

With a united voice, children urged the district and provincial governments to invest funds and take necessary care to protect their future.

They urged authorities to ensure their right to life, survival, health, and education. Children of different school clubs in Benazirabad gathered at a seminar, organised by the Hari Welfare Association and the district social welfare department, to mark Universal Children's Day.

The theme of the event was a Better Future for Every Child.

Child club leader Sabreen said that in 2019, 861 cases of child abuse were reported in Sindh by the NGO named Sahil. This included 155 cases of abduction, 231 cases of missing children and 85 cases of underage marriages.

In the same year, of the total 104 child marriage cases in the country, 82 per cent were reported in Sindh. Moreover, also in 2019, seven of the most vulnerable districts, in terms of child abduction, belonged to Sindh. The areas included Khairpur, Sukkur, Larkana, Hyderabad, Dadu, Ghotki, and Naushero Feroz.

"These cases revealed that the protection of children is not ensured by the state and the relevant authorities in every manner," Sanreen said. She added that in 2020, the same number of children (861) were abused in the province.

This included 390 cases of child sexual abuse and 190 incidents of abduction, while 231 cases of missing children, and 81 cases of child marriages, were reported.

Child club leader Rabea shared that in 2016-17, Pakistan Education Statistics reported 6.4 million children, including 3.3 million girls out-of-school, in the province. "They were deprived of their fundamental right to education."

The child club leader added that these out-of-school children were unable to attend educational institutes because of poverty, lack of nearby schools, absence of government investment interest, lack of awareness, and higher rates of corporal punishment.

Read Govt determined to ensure children's rights: PM Imran

Another child club leader, Kashaf Parveen, stated that higher illiteracy rate results from a feudal structure which forces the poor to stay marginalised. He said that most of the schools in the province were without basic facilities, thus hampering education. He added that in some areas, schools did not even exist, and those that did, remained without buildings.

On the occasion, HWA President Akram Ali Khaskheli said that on World Children's Day, each district department should have organised activities to make children and adults aware of their rights.

"However, the government had little interest in it. The worst forms of child and bonded labour are prevalent in the district, but no steps are taken to address these issues. The relevant human rights institutions merely do lip service. Still, they do not push the government to set up adequate systems and mechanisms on the district levels to protect children from slavery in agriculture, brick kiln, bangle, garment, and other sectors of the economy. Also, protect them from abuse and exploitation."

‘Punish the perpetrators’

On the occasion of International Children’s Day, a walk was organised from Karachi Arts Council to Karachi Press Club. Participants called on the government and relevant agencies to implement laws on violence against children.

The walk was organised by the Konpal Child Abuse Prevention Society (CAPS) in collaboration with the Medical and Health Wing of the Karachi Arts Council. The walk was attended by Konpal chairperson Prof. Dr. Ayesha Mehnaz, Medical and Social Wing Arts Council chairperson Dr. Qaiser Sajjad, doctors, parents, teachers and a large number of people.

Read more 11-year-old Hindu boy sexually assaulted, murdered

The participants of the walk chanted slogans for protection of children and their future. They said the government and relevant agencies should take immediate steps to address the issue of child abuse.

On this occasion, Konpal chairperson Prof. Dr. Ayesha Mehnaz said that laws related to children should be implemented immediately and the guilty should be punished without wasting time so that others may learn a lesson from it.

“One of the main reasons for crimes against children is that the perpetrators are not punished immediately,” she said and added that with more than half of the population being children, if their rights were not protected, the whole nation would suffer tomorrow.

Dr. Qaiser Sajjad said that protection of children’s rights and increasing neglect was a matter of concern.

“Lack of food, presence of infectious diseases, and reduction in vaccination rates is a great embarrassment, especially among children in Sindh,” he said. “The government and the benefactors need to pay attention to this,” he added.

Dr. Mirza Ali Azhar, President of Pakistan Medical Association Sindh and Board Member of Konpal also addressed the gathering. At the end of the programme, participants sang the national anthem and prayed for a bright future of the children of Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2021.