Calling for harmony: International Children's Day celebrated with speeches on significance of peace

Chief guest Irum Azeem Farooque says she plans to move a bill on teaching community service

KARACHI: Our school curricula don't promote peace and harmony among religions and sects and we need to teach subjects pertaining to human rights, said Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmaker Irum Azeem Farooque on Thursday.

She was the chief guest at an inter-school debate competition organised by the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc). The event was held at the Pakistan Scouts Auditorium to mark the International Children's Day.



"After consulting with my party, I am willing to move a bill on teaching community service as a subject in our curriculum," she told The Express Tribune, adding that community service will help us diminish inequality among people in our society.

"Education should be made compulsory and easily accessible to all," she said. "And it is the government's responsibility to make sure."

As many as 24 students from eight government schools of the city participated in the contest on the theme of 'Countering Violent Narrative through School Engagement'. One of the contestants, Sachal Goth Government Boys Secondary School student Arsalan, said that peace can never be attained in a society where injustice rules and people are denied their rights to education and health. He won the first prize at the competition.

"Generals ruled Pakistan for half of its age," he said during his speech. "Elected governments were toppled and leaders were shot dead and hanged."

Arsalan was of the opinion that the derailment of democracy was a driving force behind the deteriorating peace and worsening law and order in the country. "The disparity between the rich and the poor, coupled with the practice of nepotism in the judicial system, also contribute to the situation we are facing in our country," he added.

Another contestant, Abdul Ghani, who belongs to the Agro Technical Government School, amazed the audience with his powerful speech. Ghani would be a foot taller than the rostrum but his finesse appeared even higher when he said that 'intolerance is violence'.

Talking about the 'effects of violence in Pakistan', he said that a majority of our population is suffering from psychological problems due to our intolerant behaviour. "A child may lose his capability to think creatively, his curiosity to learn about new things, the adventurer inside, to the violent behaviour exhibited at homes and schools," he said.

Taking his message forward, Bhittaiabad Government School student Shazmeena said that people were being unjust to the future generations by not transmitting a legacy of peace to them. "Countries that put peace as their first priority are the most prosperous," she said.

Sparc Sindh manager Zahid Thebo explained that the contestants have come to speak at the event after participating in intra-school competitions. "The top three, from each school, were invited to the contest," he said. "This is the initial stage."

Talking about his organisation's goal, he said SPARC wanted a peaceful, progressive and tolerant Pakistan. He added that it is Sparc's initiative to promote harmony, peace and love within children as they are the best learners and teachers.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22^nd, 2014.