Children’s Day: Child protection units to be established across province

Centre being constructed will accommodate 110 children

PESHAWAR: The Child Protection and Welfare Commission and non-governmental organisations marked the United Nations Universal Children’s Day on Tuesday.

Addressing participants at a hotel, the commission’s Deputy Chief Muhammad Ijaz Khan said that child protection units had been established in Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Buner, Swat, Kohat, Abbottabad and Charsadda, to provide help child victims of violence, abuse, neglect, discrimination and exploitation.

He said that from May 1 till October 31 2012, 6,300 cases, including 3,753 boys and 2,547 girls, had been registered in eight districts of the province. At these units, 314 child protection committees were working for children’s rights and welfare.

Minister for Social Welfare Sitara Ayaz said that the provincial government had taken a number of steps for the rights and social welfare of children.

There will be immediate response to emergency cases and the commission will ensure that children are kept at a safe place and their studies are not interrupted.

Ayaz said that child protection units will be established in all 25 districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as well as the tribal areas.

She added that a child protection centre is being constructed in Peshawar, which will be completed by December to facilitate poor children. The centre will accommodate 110 children.

KP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that children’s rights should be prioritised.

Another ceremony was organised by the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child, where a large number of street children, orphans and school dropouts along with their parents participated and performed stage dramas and presented debates.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2012.