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December 31, 2008	Wednesday	Muharram 02,1430

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 30: Pakistan needs to build on United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child to protect the children from abuse, exploitation, neglect and violence, participants of a consultative session stressed here on Tuesday.

The two-day session began at a local hotel to develop a common understanding of the framework for National Child Protection Systems developed in line with the draft child protection policy and the child protection bill.

The ‘National Consultation on Child Protection Systems’ was organised by the National Commission on Child Welfare and Development (NCCWD) and the Save the Children, Sweden, in collaboration with the working group against child sexual abuse and exploitation.

It was mainly attended by officials of government departments, including the ministries of law, human rights and social welfare along with civil society representation.

The participants said due to the absence of a structured child protection system, most of the victims either had no access to any type of services or they end up receiving inadequate and low-quality services at the hands of untrained professionals.

In this connection, a national child protection system is vital to compliment and facilitate the implementation of the bill, they said.

Deliberating upon the policy in his presentation on draft child protection policy and bill, NCCWD director Sajjad Ahmad said the essence of the policy was to create a protective environment for children against violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect, and discrimination at all levels.

“One of its main objectives is to put in place legal instruments and institutional mechanisms to protect children from all forms of abuse and violence,” he added.

He said the child protection bill was being reviewed by the relevant government departments. The bill calls for special protective measures for children, who are victims of violence, abuse and exploitation; are involved in the worst forms of child labour; and are victims of trafficking within or outside the country.

Some major amendments have been made in the existing laws by increasing the duration of imprisonment and fine for the perpetrators.

“The minimal age of criminal responsibility has also been raised to 12 years, from the previously seven years, which is internationally accepted,” he informed.

According to estimates based on the 1998 census, Pakistan has a population of more than 160 million, of whom approximately half are the individuals less than 18 years of age.

Between 23-27 per cent of the population has been living below the poverty line, implying that a large number of children (1-2 million on average per year) were born in poor households.

Poverty poses survival risks to children and their families are significantly contributing to the issues of child exploitation. Simultaneously, a weak institutional framework and budgetary constraints compound the situation.

Studies have shown that 15-25 per cent of all children in the country endure some form of sexual abuse. There are approximately eight million child labourers under the age of 14, including child bonded labour, especially in the rural areas.

According to the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, there is a high rate of drug use among youth due to rise in narcotics trade from Afghanistan, but specific statistics are unavailable.

The risk of HIV and Aids has increased, according to two studies of the National Aids Control Programme.

Despite the government’s efforts to prevent child trafficking, many children are still sold, abducted or trafficked. Minor girls are trafficked within and outside the country.

Harmful traditions and practices make some children vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, while minor girls are sometimes given in marriage as a method of dispute resolution.