Protecting children

As a country with the majority of its population made up of youth and children, Pakistan needs to focus specific attention on safeguarding their future and their rights. According to estimates by international agencies there are at least 42,000 children aged under 18 years across Pakistan who are in need of protection. Amongst these one of the most vulnerable group is street children who live without shelter on footpaths, alleys and open ground in all major cities. The Zamung Kor School and centre in Peshawar, set up by an NGO half a decade ago, caters to the needs of street children by providing them education, recreation and means to build on their talent. The chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has said the model used by the institution should be expanded further, with plans on the table to add to the centres by opening up new ones in Mansehra, Abbotabad, D I Khan and other cities and towns across KP.The issue of street children certainly needs further scrutiny and the development of a national policy to keep them safe and out of harm’s way. A study conducted several years ago found that at least 25,000 street children lived in Karachi alone. The numbers are also believed to be high in Lahore and other major urban centres. The limited research carried out indicates that many of the children fall into the hands of criminal groups or are pulled into drug use and other illegal actions as a result of their situation. The background of the children varies. Some are abandoned children or orphans, some are runaways, often due to socio-economic factors affecting families, and others have found themselves on the street due to some misfortune or accident. A mechanism needs to be set up to offer these children protection and help. The Edhi Foundation has campaigned for his for decades. But more efforts are required at the government and non-government level. It is obvious that these children have talent, with one boy from Zamung Kor in Peshawar taking part in the Pakistan Premier Football League matches held in Karachi recently. In the past, street children have participated in international football contests and excelled at other skills. However, we badly need a policy which must begin with a proper survey of the number of the children and their distribution across provinces and districts. We should also have more information on how they live and what facilities are available to reunite them when possible with families. In cases where this is not feasible, a plan of action for their future needs to be chalked out. Brazil, Vietnam and other nations all offer excellent models. We need to pick one and adapt it to the needs of our own children.

from The News International - Editorial https://ift.tt/2NAbMzF