'Child protection law soon'

The federal government is presently in the process of seeking opinion and views of all concerned ministries in respect of 'Child Protection Authority Bill', drafted on the basis of ideas forwarded by concerned stakeholders.
This was stated here on Saturday evening at the provincial launch of a 'Global Study in Pakistan', which is part of the United Nations Secretary-General's study on violence against children.
The event was jointly organised by Sindh Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Commission for Child Welfare and Development and the Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education, with the cooperation of Unicef.
The Coordinator at National Commission for Child Welfare and Development (NCCWD), Hasan Manghi said thst 46.7 percent of population, comprising citizens below 18 years of age, needed a multi-sectoral approach to address the issue of violence against children.
He said that it was first time in the country that the government had developed a policy framework based on UN Convention on Child Rights.
The approach, he said, needed to be adequately responded by the provincial governments and districts as well as town governments.
Saying that the issue of violence against child is being gradually accepted, Manghi said that interventions with due provision for capacity building--both in the context of human and material resources--has to be strengthened.
He underscored the need for child protection centres at district levels, particularly in face of the fact that more than 30,000 street children are estimated to be roaming in four major cities of the country, while a much higher number may not yet have been registered.
He observed that all strategies and measures adopted for protection and wellbeing of children needed to be well-monitored through a body, or commission, capable to serve as an ombudsman, with all authority, to strictly curtail exploitation of children under any pretext.
The Officer In charge, Unicef in Sindh, Dr Asif Aslam, said that the report makes its evident that 'Violence Against Children' is not justifiable in any condition, and that it is preventable.
Recommendation of the Report, he said, was prohibition of all violence against children, including gender-based violence, through legislation, and its enforcement.
Promotion of non-violent values and awareness-raising with major focus of peace education, national and provincial commitment and actions, ensuring participation of children and creating child-friendly and accessible reporting system and service were, among other important recommendations of the 'Global Report (Pakistan Chapter) on Violence against Children'.
Senior Researcher, Dr Farah Iqbal presented 'Situational Analysis and Literature Review of Child Protection Issues' and enumerated child sexual abuse, juvenile justice and street children among the significant issues enhancing the plight of local children.
She said that community protection services for children are being provided only be a few NGOs without any provision for proper networking and coordination. The presentations were followed by a panel discussion during which Dr Ayesha Mehnaz (Pediatrician), Manna Rana (Unicef), Farah Shafi Kamal (Educationist), Dr Omer Baloch and Dr Farah Iqbal responded to queries raised by children present on the occasion.
Director, Social Welfare Department, Qurban Ali Memon, presented the address of welcome, and Assistant Director of the Department, Shehnaz Fazal, offered the vote of thanks.