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| Drive to end corporal punishment launched |
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Saturday, June 27, 2009
Islamabad
Plan International launched its global advocacy campaign with focus on eliminating corporal punishment in educational institutions across the country.
Plan Pakistan Acting Country Director Roger Braden gave brief details about the impact of corporal punishment on children in Pakistan. Quoting from a study conducted by Plan Pakistan in Punjab, he said, “the practice of corporal punishment is at 89 per cent in the areas researched and contrary to popular belief, it is practiced equally both in rural and urban settings.”
Plan Pakistan Programme Support Manager Ramrajya Joshi made a presentation on Plan and its work in Pakistan. She commented that Plan has been working in Pakistan since 1997 and is currently sponsoring 25,000 children in the country. Plan covers the areas of health, education, livelihood, child and gender rights and disaster risk reduction.
The campaign is aimed at preventing all forms of violence against children in schools. This may include corporal punishment, sexual abuse, neglect, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, bullying, peer-to-peer violence, youth gangs, use of weapons and harassment on the journey to and from school. The campaign has been launched in 66 countries worldwide by Plan.
Natasha Kamal, Communications Manager talked about the global advocacy campaign of Plan and its focus in Pakistan being Corporal Punishment. Talking about the campaign’s vision, she said, “Our vision is of a world where children can go to school in safety and expect a quality learning experience without fear or threats of Violence.” Natasha said that the campaign aimed at creating awareness among all stakeholders on the issue of violence against children with a focus on corporal punishment.
The ‘Learn without Fear’ Campaign Song was also launched and the song has been sung by the famous singer Abbas Ali Khan and composed and arranged by Salman Albert, this song was done on voluntary basis by both the artists.
The launch mementos were presented to singer Abbas Ali Khan and Salman Albert for their contribution and participation in the ‘Learn without Fear’ Campaign.
Plan is an international humanitarian, child focused development organisation without religious, political or government affiliations. Country Learning Advisor, Plan Pakistan said on the occasion that Plan International started working in Pakistan in 1997 and has four programme areas in the districts of Chakwal and Vehari in Punjab and the squatter settlements of Islamabad. Highlighting Plan’s activities, she said the organization has focused on safe motherhood and child survival, children’s access to quality education, water and sanitation, community capacity-building, income-generation and child rights including birth registration (Universal Birth Registration) and disaster risk reduction. Plan works in partnership first and foremost with children, their families and communities but also with government departments, agencies and other developmental organizations trying to affect the key issues impacting children in Pakistan.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
