Govt urged to take legislative measures against child marriages

Islamabad

Speakers on Wednesday urged the government to take urgent legislative measures against child marriages in all provinces of the country.

They were expressing views at a ceremony organised by the Federal Ministry of Human Rights on the occasion of Universal Children’s Day. The event included presentation of the work of different alliances and organisations working for child rights, speeches and colourful performances by the students of different schools in Islamabad.

Speakers representing different organisations working on child rights demanded systematic mechanism and special allocation of budget for effective implementation of laws that has already been passed by the Parliament. They also recommended the government to include information regarding laws on child rights in the curriculum of schools and law enforcement agencies.

Federal Minister for Human Rights Senator Kamran Michael was the chief guest of the event which was attended by Joint Secretary Ministry of Human Rights Humaira Azam, Parliamentarians, Representatives of Government, UN Agencies, members of INGOs and NGOs, students and large number of children from different schools of Islamabad.

Speaking on this occasion, Federal Minister for Human Rights Senator Kamran Michael said that the promotion and protection of human rights including the rights of women and children was the top most priority of present government.

“Children are our responsibility and our priority as they are our hope and aspiration for the future. We must ensure that progressive and liberal Pakistan envisioned by our forefathers becomes a living reality,” he said.

The minister said day is a reminder of national and international obligations and commitments for the rights of children. “Despite the fact that Pakistan is facing many challenges, a number of policies, legislative, administrative and programmatic measures have been taken by the government for the promotion and protection of rights of children,” he added.

The federal minister said the ministry is implementing a National Plan of Action on Human Rights which has an exclusive chapter on child protection, child labour, education and other measures for ending discrimination and violence against children.

He further stated that Ministry of Human Rights has promulgated the landmark legislation Criminal Law Act introducing punishments for exposure of children to seduction, cruelty to child, child pornography, child sexual abuse and trafficking of human beings.

The minister said on the directives of Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Shareef a Treaty Implementation Cells have been set up at federal and provincial level to oversee implementation of the human rights conventions including convention on the rights of the child. He said Pakistan is playing a leading role in implementation of the Action Plan of the South Asia Initiative to end violence against children which is focusing on the five thematic areas of violence against children like child labour, child trafficking, child sexual abuse and exploitation, child marriages and corporal punishment.

He said steps have been taken to ensure the protection of human rights and in this connection National Child Protection Centre has already been providing protection, rehabilitation and reintegration services to vulnerable and at risk children. “The ministry has launched a Helpline 1099 for free Legal Advice to the victims of human and child rights violations,” he added.

Kamran Michael said that the government is also reviewing the existing child rights laws bringing them in conformity of international standards to make Pakistan a child friendly country. He said all the stakeholders must put their sincere efforts towards making the society tolerant and ensuring healthy growth and development of children.

He also appreciated the public and private sector organisations that are rendering invaluable services to promote well-being of children. He urged all those organisations to work out a coordination mechanism to establish linkages for maximising efforts and enhancing synergies and said the people of Pakistan should come forward and join hands with the government and invests in children for their development.