Freedom of expression every child’s right

ISLAMABAD - As a part of the efforts to raise awareness about child-related issues and their rights in Pakistan as well as to provide child-friendly space for poor orphans, the Islamic Relief - Pakistan organised “Children’s Recreational Day” on Sunday. Children from poor neighbourhoods of the twin cities took part in the recreational activities and met with civil society, educationists, university students and the media persons to share their issues with the public. Addressing the gathering, Islamic Relief Country Director Fadlullah Wilmot said nutrition, education, better healthcare and a healthy environment were the basic rights of children. “It is very important to treat the future generation with love and respect and to provide all children of whatever race, religion or sex with equal opportunities to explore new horizons.”
Pakistan is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, according to which, every child has an equal right to life, health, nutrition, education and freedom of expression. “It is our duty to take care of children and provide them all the necessary facilities to exercise these rights and as an Islamic country it is even more essential to implement the teachings of Islam which make it obligatory to treat all children with love, give them their rights and prevent exploitation,” he added. “We need not to show compassion in words but stop the exploitation of children at all levels especially under-aged children in the workplace especially those working in hazardous occupations.”
“It is shameful to find such violation of the moral and ethical teachings of Islam where adults are exploiting the labour or young children.” The Head of Islamic Relief Pakistan’s Development Programmes, Adnan Bin Junaid, said children were capable of great things when they grew up in the right conditions with love and enough food and water for a healthy start to life, with equal opportunities to learn, free from threats of violence and exploitation which was something that no boy or girl should ever have to face.
“To survive and thrive, children need guidance. They need education, health, safety, security and chance to develop their abilities in order to take full advantage of their potential”
While highlighting Islamic Relief’s Child Welfare Programme, he said it was focusing on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, particularly those that included improving access to primary education, reducing child mortality, and improving access to health facilities. “Most importantly, our efforts help our sponsored children to complete their education and turn into healthy, educated and productive adults.”
He said statistics revealed that 20 percent of children died of pneumonia, while seven percent children had to face psychological negligence and abuse at their homes and 11 percent of children in the world were unable to access medical treatment when sick.