Sparc launches 'The State of Pakistan's Children 2011' report

Representatives of Child rights organisation have underlined the weak implementation of biding laws on children rights are the major obstacle to address the growing child related issues. They said that the state was responsible to strictly enforce the relevant laws for overcoming with the issues and challenges.
They called upon the government to take appropriate steps for protection of basic children rights. The speakers highlighted the debilitating state of child rights in the country, stressed the need for proactive measures for addressal of impediments before the implementation of biding laws on protection of children rights. They expressed these views during an annual report launching ceremony titled "The State of Pakistan's Children 2011" envisaged by Society for the protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc) here at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday.
The report was formally launched by Jamaat-i-Islami provincial Naib Ameer, Mushtaq Ahmad. On the occasion, Sparc Regional Manager, Jehanzeb Khan Yousufzai, Executive Director Arshad Mehmood, Child rights activists, representatives from non-governmental and social society organisations and others were present.
While sharing the finding of report, JI Naib Ameer Mushtaq Ahmad stressed the need for collective efforts for overcoming with the existing issues facing by children in the country. He said, according to report that more than seven million children were out of schools, whereas around 51 per cent of total dropped out rate at primary level education in the country.
According to facts and figures of the report, he said nearly 4.8 million children had been affected by floods and militancy in the country. "A total number of 2,303 sexual abuses cases against children were reported, whereas around 65 to 150 cases of violence against women VAW with miscellaneous nature cases, including acid throwing, forced marriages and sexual abuse, were registered during 2011", according to the report, he said.
The report further revealed that the target of 100 per cent literacy ratio by end of 2010 had missed due to poor governance and inadequate facilities at educational institutions in the country. "Around 40 per cent of education and health budget were lapsed owing to lack of proper planning and inefficient of relevant departments", disclosed in the report.
He informed that Pakistan's has ranked second among dropped out rate of educational institutions around the World. He said the enrolment ratio of children between the ages of five to nine is around 35 per cent. JI provincial naib Ameer said the situation has become complex and complicated relating to protection of children rights, and accesses to basic facilities, including education, health and provision of other rights in the country. The Sparc regional Manager, Jehanzeb Khan stressed upon the policy makers and members of social society organisations as key stakeholders to take effective steps for addressal of issues facing the children in the country.