20 November 2004	Saturday	07 Shawwal 1425

KARACHI, Nov 19: Speakers at a seminar on Friday urged the government to take measures to save millions of children whose lives are under threat due to poverty, family disputes and unawareness among parents about adverse impacts of family problems on them in society.

Giving their presentations over the issue, they held government institutions responsible of present situation in which children are insecure at home, school and streets.

They were speaking at a seminar on "World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse", organized by the Madadgar, a joint project of Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid and Unicef. Sister Julie Pachecho, Principal of St Joseph's School, Minhas Tejani, Vice Principal Aga Khan School and Zia Awan, President LHRLA, presided over the seminar.

Students from St. Joseph School, DHA School, Aga Khan University School, Happy Home School and BVS School gave their presentations focusing on child sexual abuse, drug abuse, child beggary, missing children, camel racing, street children and other related topics, which received applause from audience.

Speakers pointed out that a number of missing as well as street children is increasing with each passing day and it is responsibility of government institutions as well as NGOs to address actual causes of the problem. -PPI