Police officers trained to deal with displaced children

The speakers at a training session on Friday highlighted the issues faced by displaced children, who have been forced to leave their homes because of different problems including poverty, war, terrorism, and natural disasters. 

“Every child has a right to be provided legal assistance by the State. Sindh police department is making efforts to play its vital role by sensitising the officials, who have to deal with such children with different situations,” said SSP Faizullah Korejo.

The two-day training (Nov 3 and 4) on “The Role of Police to the Protection of Children on the Move” for newly recruited police officials, mostly assistant sub- inspectors at the Saeedabad police training centre in Karachi was held to sensitise them as to how to treat the child-sensitive issues in their jurisdictions, while joining their offices. 

The event was organised by DevCon for capacity building on child rights under the child protection response campaign “Destination Unknown - Children on the Move” with the support of Tere Des Home. The program was attended by two groups of Sindh police officials.

SSP Faizullah Korejo, SSP Shad Ibn-e-Masih, human rights activist Iqbal Detho, DevCon CEO Nisar Ahmed Nizamani and Tere Des Home country director Salam Dharejo facilitated the training sessions.

SSP Faizullah explained in detail to the participants about the protection framework to deal with juveniles and children with legal aspects and emphasised the role of probation officer and in-charge police officers when a victim or accused is a child.

He said the juvenile court should decide the case within four months. No child should be charged with or tried for an offence with an adult. The officer in-charge of the police station must inform the guardian of the child and concerned probation officer for proper assistance.

Nisar Nizamani discussed the issues of street children and good practices in the world and emphasized that civil and government officials together can definitely improve the working relationship with the government sector, especially police officials, who play a very vital role in the society.

Detho spoke in detail about the existing laws and procedural mechanism in terms of dealing with the cases of children. He urged upon police officials to follow the procedure and ensure protection of children.

Destination Unknown is an international campaign to protect children on the move, as hundreds of children need help, while escaping poverty, violence, disaster and exploitation.

Children in Pakistan face a variety of serious challenges ranging from malnutrition and poor access to education and health facilities to exploitation in the form of child labour. Their low status in society can leave them victim to daily violence at home and in school as well as to organized trafficking and sexual exploitation. Girls are specially affected as conservative attitudes may impede them attending or finishing school.

The speakers emphasised the need to adopt child-friendly approach. They pointed out that children wee considered the future of every nation. It is the responsibility of parents, teachers and entire society at every level to protect children and ensure that they get the best footing in life.

They asked police officials to play their role as laws are available at provincial, national and international level, which the government has already ratified.

The police have to play their role at their own levels.

The trainers urged the police officials to take responsibility for the protection of children, who sometimes face horrible issues. They have discussed the list of issues facing children in rural and urban areas, which include leaving home in case of endless domestic violation, early child marriage, forced labour, exploitation, trafficking and torture at every level.

DevCon is working on welfare of street children in Karachi. The organisation has a mobile child protection unit with team of mobilisers that sensitises parents to have their children enrolled in schools instead of engaging them in different works.

Four child protection units are running in Dadu, Larkana, Nawabshah and Sanghar that help children on their interest in case some lost homes and move on unknown destination. Then DevCon team initiates search to bring them back home to parents with local police and government’s district administration.

At the end, police officials received certificates and expressed their commitment to play their role in child protection.