Islamabad
The Child Right Movement (CRM) Pakistan on Tuesday launched a postcard campaign for the enactment of pending child rights related legislation at the federal level.
Under this campaign, 5,000 postcards from across the country will be sent to Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif by children, parents, teachers, members of civil society and others urging him to play his role for the enactment of all pending legislation related to child rights including the National Commission on the Rights of Children (NCRC) Bill, the Child Protection (Criminal Law) Amendment Bill 2013, the Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill 2013, the Charter of Child Rights Bill and the Child Marriage Restraint (amendment) Bill 2010.
Addressing a press conference at the launch, CRM representatives said legislation on child rights issues has not gained due consideration of the Parliament at the federal level despite several commitments at the national and international level by the consecutive governments. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child while considering Pakistan’s Periodic Reports in 2003 and 2009 repeatedly raised its concerns and recommended to enact pending legislation related to child rights with no results so far. The names of the panellists included Arshad Mehmood from Save the Children, Saleem Malik from Baidari, Kausar Bano from Right to Play, Habiba Salman from Sahil. The CRM is a coalition of more than 100 civil society organisations working for the protection and promotion of child rights across Pakistan.
In Pakistan, over the years legislation on child rights issues has not received due consideration and commitment by the policy makers and one of the biggest reasons for this disparity is the absence of National Commission on the Rights of Children (NCRC) to act as a central, independent and effective child rights body to ensure monitoring and implementation of the minimum child rights standards across the country; to respond to the child rights violation cases effectively in a timely manner; and to exercise pressure for filling legislative gaps. The Bill on the NCRC has been pending since 2001. Despite the fact that 2013 was declared as “The Year of the Rights of the Child” by the then Prime Minister on Universal Children’s Day, November 20, 2012. CRM members lamented that no significant steps have been taken during the year for the promotion and protection of child rights at the policy and legislation level.
The previous National Assembly passed the Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill 2013 in the session on the last day of its tenure. However, the Bill lapsed as it was not passed by the Senate of Pakistan and the National Assembly was dissolved. Similarly, the Child Protection (Criminal Law) Amendment Bill 2013 was approved by the previous Cabinet in its last meeting without any further progress, shared members of the CRM Pakistan. The CRM announced a sustained campaign for the enactment of child rights related Bills and urged the media and civil society of Pakistan for their support to gather maximum signatures to convince the policy makers to enact the pending bills and make Pakistan a safer and protected place for our children. The CRM Pakistan members said that it was important to support the campaign for the enactment of the pending legislation keeping in mind the state of child rights in the country. They shared that there are more than 20.5 million children out of school and of these 10.2 million are engaged in child labour where they are exploited, abused, tortured and killed. The Global Slavery Index 2013 reveals millions of modern slave children in Pakistan. Unfortunately, crimes against children are increasing rapidly. In 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the reported cases of child sexual abuse were 2012, 2595, 2303 and 2788 respectively.
Though the ICT Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act was passed in 2012 by the both houses of the parliament yet the law is not enforceable in the ICT as rules have not been notified for the enforcement and implementation of the law in letter and spirit.
