President graces CRC's 30th anniversary celebrations

President Dr Arif Alvi attended an event celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Right of the Child (CRC) here on Thursday.

Even though Pakistan has made great progress for children to realize their rights, a lot remains to be done to ensure that every child enjoys every right across the country. A commitment to this effect was made by the President as he attended the event, organized by the Ministry of Human Rights and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), as chief guest, said a press release issued here.

President Dr Arif Alvi said, "The CRC is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. Pakistan ratified it in 1990, less than one year after it was first signed. At the core of this treaty is the idea that children are human beings and individuals with their own rights. The Convention says childhood is separate from adulthood and lasts until 18. It is a special, protected time, in which children must be allowed to grow, learn, play, develop and flourish with dignity."

Quote by the Minister for Human Rights, Shireen Mazari Several events were organized to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the CRC across Pakistan over the past months.

UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, Aida Girma said: "The CRC@30 is an opportunity to revisit commitments to children and accelerate our efforts so that all children in Pakistan realize their rights as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

UNICEF reaffirms its support to the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress on child rights implementation, so that for every child, every right is fulfilled, now and for generations to come".

A comprehensive legislative review of child rights legislations was followed by consultations at the four Provincial Assemblies, culminating in a consultation at the National Assembly to help work towards compliance with the CRC.

A series of children's consultations were organized in the provincial capitals, with over 500 children and adolescents discussing their rights and needs, which they summed up in a Charter presented to the President during the event. Another 300 children participated in an art contest about child rights in the four provinces; selected drawings were shown to the President at the event. Lessons on child rights were also organized in non-formal education centres in several parts of the country.

On the night of 20 November, more than 20 iconic monuments and landmarks were lit up blue in six cities to commemorate World Children's Day in Islamabad. These included Quaid's mausoleum in Karachi; Quaid's residencies in Ziarat and Karachi; Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore; the Presidency, the Prime Minister Secretariat and the National Assembly building in Islamabad; and the premises of all four provincial assemblies in Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar. The Ministry of Postal Services issued a special commemorative stamp to mark the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

A large gathering of public representatives, senior government officials, diplomats, members of the civil society, media, children and adolescents coming from all over the country attended the event.-PR