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| 25 million Pakistani children out of school |
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Saturday, November 21, 2009
Our correspondent
Islamabad
Like all other countries of the world, Pakistan celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) here on Friday.
Pakistan has ratified the CRC in 1990. The day is observed as activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the charter and the welfare of the children of the world. This day is also very important for all those segments of the society in Pakistan who play a significant role in the making or breaking the life of the children, whether they are parents, teachers, peer groups, the government and society.
Children’s Day is all about celebrating the wonderful, pure and innocent childhood. To honour this day, Global Peace Pioneers- GPP presented a tribute and dedicated to all children of the society. GPP highlighted the importance of protection of child rights and emphasized about the necessity of rights awareness among children.
To mark this day GPP organised a creative art event in village Ternol with the children from public and private schools, students from Madrassas, teachers and parents were also invited in the programme. Children presented skits and tableau highlighting children issues, right to quality education, expressed their feelings and emotions through art.
GPP Chairperson Hina Iqbal said that situation of children is depressing in Pakistan. She stated that in Pakistan more than 50% of the total population is child and out of which 70 per cent of the children are not registered at the time of birth, especially girls. She said that almost 25-million child population is not going to school, 10 million children are in child labour where they are exposed to all types of discrimination ranging from verbal to sexual abuse.
Talking to the parents, teachers and community members, she said that Pakistan is signatory of the CRC and obliged to fulfil its provisions. These are the only segments of society that can play active role in socializing children according to the convention.
Children pledged to form a citywide child rights club as one mechanism whereby they could work together towards creation of a child safe and friendly city. The club enabled children to meet together to find ways to increase awareness and action about children’s rights. She urged the government to increase budget for children education and healthcare.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
