Govt urged to outlaw child labour
One in every four households in Pakistan has a child employed in domestic labour.
Celebrities, Civil Society, Parliamentary Stakeholders and others voiced the need for effective legislation to outlaw child domestic labour on Thursday.
During a provincial policy dialogue jointly arranged by Search for Justice, Children Advocacy Network Pakistan, National Commission for Human Rights and Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) Punjab, stakeholders jointly urged the Punjab government to take urgent legislative measures to effectively outlaw Child Domestic Labour.
The speakers said that it is not only a clear violation of children’s rights recognized by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but a violation of their fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution of Pakistan.
Executive Director Search for Justice Iftikhar Mubarik shared that the prohibition of child domestic labour carries immense significance and reflects a resolute commitment to shielding children from hazardous and exploitative environments.
Outlawing this practice underscores the importance of providing a safe haven for children from abuse, neglect and the denial of education.
Former Parliamentarians Mehnaz Akbar Aziz, Faiza Malik and Amna Sardar among others fully endorsed the suggestion to amend the Punjab Destitute & Neglected Children Act to bring the issue of Child Domestic Labour under the purview of the CPWB.
Legislators from across the political spectrum came together to support the draft jointly developed by CPWB and Search for Justice, championing legislation that will not only criminalise child domestic labour but also establish stringent enforcement mechanisms.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2023.