News
Thursday, November 21, 2013
President vows to protect child rights, promote educationISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain on Wednesday vowed to protect child rights and said that Pakistan’s prosperity depended on its bright and promising next generation.
Addressing a function here at the Pakistan National Council of Arts to mark the Universal Children’s Day, the president said educating the female child was all the more important, as it would positively impact the future generations.
President Mamnoon Hussain made a fervent appeal to the nation and all stakeholders for focussing on education, as it was the basic necessity and could open numerous avenues for progress.
The president said it was unfortunate that children were subject to inhumane attitudes and were used as labourers, denied basic health facilities, marginalised, forced to live on streets and suffered by disputes be it religious or social.
“Violence harms the physical and mental growth of children and thus holds them back from becoming a productive part of the society,” the president said.
He said the theme for this year “Stop Violence Against Children” stressed the importance of protecting children from abuse and maltreatment and draws attention towards providing safeguards to children.
He said the protection of the rights of children was guided by the Islamic injunctions and the Constitution of Pakistan.
He said, “Pakistan is committed to implementing the United Nations Convention on the rights of the child and its provisions in letter and spirit.”
The president said the government was striving to achieve the Millennium Development Goals to fulfil these obligations by taking all stakeholders onboard.
“We believe that social justice and equality are the cornerstones on which a firm structure of a healthy society is built.”
He said the state was well cognizant of its responsibilities towards protecting the rights of children and ensuring their welfare. However, a collective response of the communities and families was also needed.
He said the government had undertaken measures to invest in children and youth so as to promote the welfare of future generation and accelerate the country’s development. The president said the government was determined to ensure easy and affordable education to all children across the country.
“We are committed to improving both the quality and the coverage of education and healthcare through effective policy interventions,” he said.
The president appreciated public and private organisations, the UN, the NGOs, volunteers and philanthropists for promoting the well-being of children and creating awareness about their rights.
Mamnoon Hussain also drew attention towards the rights of children who required extra attention and had special needs.
“We need to gear up for providing children with adequate infrastructural, legislative, social and other support to help them lead a healthy life,” he added.
The president urged all stakeholders to join hands and work together for providing children with a bright and a promising future for a progressive and developed Pakistan.
Earlier, the president witnessed skits and speeches by students belonging to the schools under the Federal Directorate of Education, the Pakistan Baitul Mal and the Special Education Department.
Children in a skit showed how corporal punishments at schools led to increased dropout rates and the need to impart education with greater understanding and care. The children also presented songs including a famous prayer by Allama Iqbal.
Law Secretary Barrister Zafarullah Khan said any sort of violence against children led to life-long traumas that negatively impacted their social behaviour. He mentioned a number of legislations that had either been enacted or were in various stages to provide legal protection to children.
The UNICEF country director and the representatives of PLAN Pakistan stressed the need for implementing existing laws for the protection of children.
They said at least nine years of minimum education for girls helped a great deal in helping them bring up their children. It was also pointed that still a large percentage of schools failed to stop corporal punishment.
It was stressed that children needed to fully explore their skills and potential. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk