ISLAMABAD, June 24: Participants of a national consultation workshop on compilation and revision of child related laws have called for strict implementation of existing laws for better future of the children.

They said the existing 78 child specific laws in the country also needed revision beside repeal of certain clauses.

The national consultative workshop was organized by the ministry of women development, social welfare and special education with financial assistance from United Nations Children Fund-Pakistan, here on Tuesday.

Barrister Zafarullah Khan in a presentation on the child related laws said the main focus of such consultative workshops would be on criminal justice system, health, education, abuse and family affairs.

Later, four groups were constituted with equal distribution of participants to discuss the laws which covered these four areas.

The first group which discussed criminal justice system in the country recommended that juvenile courts should not be burdened with other cases.

The group also suggested that barring exceptions, children’s presence in the courts should be avoided as it has a very negative psychological impact. Besides, dependency of such courts shouldn’t be more than 300 cases, it added.

The group also sought repeal of Section 130 of Railways Act as it sanctioned punishment against minor under various offences.

The second group which discussed health and education related laws recommended that the word smoking in the Smoking Ordinance 2002 should be replaced with tobacco, as there were number of other means to take tobacco.

The group also strongly recommended the reservation of two percent quota for disabled students both in provincial and federal government organizations.

Discussing child abuse in the form of trafficking, drug, sex, the third group recommended a set of sever punishments for those who were involved in such crimes.

The last group focusing on family laws was of the view that on such discussions representation of other concerned stakeholders ie police, prison etc should be made mandatory.

The group said the state had the responsibility of a child whose mother was convicted under whatsoever offences.

Speaking on the occasion, former secretary ministry of women development said: “We as a nation have the responsibility to provide enabling environment to our children”.