Addressing key issues of child rights at brick kilns through collective support stressed

Islamabad

Speakers stressed for diverse approach to address the key issues of child rights at brick kilns through collective support of children rights movement, animal owners, brick kiln owners, CSOs, government departments and media.

They were speaking at a national consultation organised on Wednesday to address overwhelming issues of human and child labour in brick kilns and its link with animal welfare and environmental challenges which are yet unaddressed and unresolved. The consultation was organised by the Ministry of Human Rights, SAIEVAC, ILO and Solidar, National Action and Coordination Group (NACG) and Child Rights Movement (CRM).

Pakistan is the third largest brick producing country of south Asia, producing more than 45 billion bricks per year. There are 18000 brick kilns in Pakistan according to Brick Kiln owner Adobe Acrobat Document Association. There are 79,661 functional brick kilns only in Punjab province. Traditional brick kilns have a significant impact on the environment through the pollutant emissions they generate including carbon dioxide (CO     ), carbon monoxide (CO) and short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) such as black carbon, and the high usage of fertile topsoil which causes irreversible damages such as soil erosion, depletion of soil quality and flooding. This in turn leads to negative consequences for agricultural production. Traditional brick kilns emit black smoke containing air pollutants and dangerous for both human and animals. Pakistan brick kilns are supported by millions or workers -- adults (men and women) and children. There are no official figures but it is estimated that 4.5 million people work in Pakistani brick kilns

A large number of brick kilns also rely on animal labour -- primarily donkeys, horses and mules -- to transport bricks within and from the kilns. Although there are no official figures, it is estimated that there are more than 1,150,005 donkeys, horses and mules working in Pakistani brick kilns. Although rarely considered in brick kilns policy and programmatic initiatives and discussions, animals play a key role in the brick production value chain. They are much cheaper and more efficient than using small trucks or other mechanised vehicles and are therefore a critical profitability factor for small-scale brick kiln owners. They also generate income for their owners and handlers through their work, which quite often represents their main source of revenue for the year.

Chair of NACG and CEO of National Secretariat of CRM United Global Organization of Development(UGOOD), Syed Ishtiaq Ul Hassan Gilani, DG South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children(SAIEVAC) Dr. Rinchen Chophel, DG Environmental Protection Agency Farzana Shah, DG in Ministry of Human Rights Hassan Mangi,  Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr. Qurban, Secretary Ministry of Human Rights Rabia Javeria Agha, Interim Country Representative Solidar Switzerland and Child Rights Movement Qazi Saqib as well as many other renowned personalities took part in this national consultation to transform brick kilns industry.

During the discussion, Syed Ishtiaq Ul Hassan Gilani said that there is an urgency to take practical and concrete measures to address Child Labour in Pakistan, especially in the brick kiln industry. The solution to this alarming issue is ‘Free and Compulsory Education for all children from 5 till 16’ and adequate child protection mechanisms.

Dr. Rinchen Chophel emphasized the essence of National Consultation and shared that the consultation is resultant of SAIEVAC regional consultation in Pokhra which aims to protect and secure millions of girls and children who are at Stake.

DG Environmental Protection Agency Farzana Shah said that ignorance from environmental care can lead to severe implications therefore we must have to take immediate step for to save and develop a refreshing environment.

DG Human Rights Ministry Hassan Mangi urged for effective enactment, enforcement and use of National instruments to eliminate violation of Child Rights and Human Rights. Moreover, he said that all institutions Governmental and private must need to collaborate to protect the right of every individual. He said that National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are striving hard to ensure sense of transparency and accountability by synergizing with key stakeholders to change the industry.

Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr. Qurban said that Animals and equines require due attention for their grooming and wellbeing therefore, animal owners must ensure their basic rights of food and health, if remained ignorant ultimately it will lead to the death of the animals.

Brick Kiln Owner Association Mehr Abdul Haq said that all brick kilns workers must need to be paid as per their labour to suffice their needs. All the Brick Kiln Owner will have to ensure to put every child labour in school.

The two-day consultation is aimed at outlining the advocacy and lobbying strategy with different stakeholders to effectively address child labour, child marriage, and unaddressed environmental and animal rights. It plans to develop a Task Force which will ensure rigorous advocacy and follow ups for concrete outcomes and legislation.

Valerie Khan, Executive Director Group Development Pakistan underlined the fact that Pakistan was going in the right direction by involving children in policy and legal reform, since child participation is a fundamental right of children. Eminent human rights activist Tahira Abdullah gave concluding remarks.

The first day of the consultation ended on a commitment to establish a joint action committee with all concerned stakeholders, develop its TORs to improve environmental, animals and children conditions in a cross sectoral manner since those sectors were all interlinked.