Reform through law: Campaign kicks off to set up child rights commission

Speakers call for administrative, legal reforms to ensure protection of child rights

LAHORE:

The Children Advocacy Network (CAN) Pakistan on Friday launched a campaign for the establishment of a commission to protect the rights of children.

Speaking at a press conference, CAN Pakistan’s Iftikhar Mubarik said there was a need for several administrative and legal reforms to ensure protection of children’s rights. He said no comprehensive survey had been conducted since 1996 to measure the prevalence of child labour in the country.

The CAN Pakistan is a group of volunteers, rights’ activists, workers and professionals.

Speakers expressed concerns over the lack of an independent authority in the province to monitor the Implementation of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children. They said the federal government had ratified the convention in 1990.

The campaign also features writing of letters addressed to the chief minister demanding urgent steps for the establishment of The Punjab Commission on the Rights of Children.

CAN Pakistan legal aid officer Ms Iffat stressed that the provincial government had yet to come up with a policy on protection of children from all forms of abuse and exploitation. She also urged the need to expedite work on the ratification of The Restriction of Children’s Employment Act. The bill is pending approval by a cabinet committee before it can be referred to the Punjab Assembly for legislation, the officer said.

The officer said a stricter law was required to curb employment of children for domestic help.

She said a comprehensive plan was needed for protection of children from sexual abuse.

SPO regional head Salman Abid said that effective implementation of laws on school education should be a priority of the provincial government rather than completion of infrastructure projects. He condemned the government for delaying the formulation of rules required under the Punjab Free and Compulsory Education Act of 2014.

South Asia Partnership Pakistan (SAP-PK) deputy director Irfan Mufti said a civilised and just society could not be established without ensuring respect for children’s rights.

CAN Pakistan spokesperson Rashida Qureshi said rights of children were recognised in the Article 25 (3) of the Constitution. She said the 47 percent of the country’s population was below the age of 18 years.

Mumtaz Mughal of the Aurat Foundation, Khalid Malik of the Labour Education Foundation, and Faisal Shabbir of Idara Taleem-o-Agahi were also present.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2015.