BISP to launch national child protection campaign today

Islamabad: Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) will launch ‘BISP Child Protection Campaign’ in 40 districts of the country from today (January 27).

The campaign has been planned under the concept of social responsibility envisaging a call to action from all segments of society. It will include gatherings in 40 districts which will be led by respective parliamentarians who will initiate the campaign in their constituencies.

The main event will be held at BISP headquarters and presided by Chairperson BISP, Marvi Memon. The Members of Parliament, academia, civil society, media, various INGOs and NGOs working on child protection like Sahil, Unicef, UN Women, Oxfam International and BISP beneficiaries will participate in the campaign. It will proceed towards a pledge of child protection from all stakeholders.

During the campaign, the BISP women leaders, BISP beneficiaries and their children will be sensitised through training on issues of child protection, children’s rights and ways to ensure security of children through video documentaries, IEC (Information, Education and Communication) material and animated and illustrative messaging.

The campaign is planned to raise awareness about the different aspects of child protection, role of parents, teachers, leaders, guardians and responsible members of society regarding child protection. The campaign will also highlight different methods to inform children on the issue. The campaign will focus activities where the parents, teachers, youth and the community will be informed on the scale of the problem and the actions which can be taken to control the issue of child harassment and abuse. It is focused towards changing the attitudes of complacency towards our children.

The campaign will have multiple outcomes such as a strong policy dialogue on issues of child protection, an aware and informed community on child rights and voice generation of civil society and media on children’s wellbeing and a resolution from all stakeholders against the violence against children.

Moreover, BISP also plans to set up a hotline and call centre as part of this campaign for receiving complaints of abuse against children and direct them to relevant agencies for actions.

‘BISP Child Protection Campaign’ will be helpful to create an environment, in which families, communities, organisations and government ensure that children’s physical, social and psychological needs are fulfilled so that they grow into healthy and contributing members of society, ultimately resulting in a child friendly society.