ISLAMABAD: A number of gangs in major cities are involved in pushing children into begging on streets, but no one has taken action against them. Furthermore, the seriousness of the previous government was questioned as speakers at an event said employees of National Commission on Rights of the Child (NCRC) did not receive their salaries for the last two years.

They were speaking at the launch of a policy brief: ‘Street-connected children in Pakistan: education and protection challenges’. The policy brief launch comes at a time when there is a need to bring the focus of policymakers back to pressing social and developmental challenges.

Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights Executive Director Shafique Chaudhry said: “Street children are not just the issue of direct stakeholders — parents, teachers or the community — but also the direct responsibility of the state and the government.”

NCRC Chairperson Afshan Tehseen Bajwa spoke about the day-to-day marginalisation faced by such children.

NCRC employees without salaries for the last two years

“Street children are one of the most vulnerable and ignored groups in Pakistan both by the state and the society. They face a multitude of problems and live in abject poverty, often exposed to deprivation and danger on the streets. NCRC calls upon the state to devise a

national-level framework for decriminalisation and de-stigmatisation of street children. In addition,

existing legal provisions about vagrancy in special and penal laws should be done away with. It is the duty of the state to ensure that the children are reintegrated into society,” she said.

Co-author of the policy brief and Cities for Children Founder Madeeha Ansari said: “It is wonderful seeing the discourse around street-connected children evolving in progressive ways. We need to hear from children and communities, to design the systems of support they need. After all every child has the right to a childhood.”

Representative of Child Rights Movement Akhtar Syed said: “We need to focus on the capacity-building of social works, rehabilitation and recovery of street children. It is important to recognise the entire ecosystem of stakeholders working for child rights.”

Child rights and gender equality expert Valerie Khan said: “Socioeconomic empowerment of families, curbing domestic violence, and child protection with a socio-cultural nuance are some of the actionable ways of keeping children off the streets.”

Unicef child protection analyst Susan Andrew said: “It is a call to action to the government, civil society organisations and all partners involved in working for child rights to focus on a long term and holistic approach towards helping street children. Children should be given the dignity of education and protection, among others.”

Devcom Executive Director Munir Ahmed said: “Civil society needs to advocate for reforms, especially when it comes to ignored and vulnerable street children.”

Journalist Tazeen Akhtar said it was unfortunate that employees of NCRC were not getting salaries since the last two years.

“What we will give them today, they (children) will give us tomorrow. So it is our duty, to at least

give them a chance to become good citizens rather than criminals,” he said.

NCRC members from Khyber Paktunkhwa Jawadullah alleged that gangs were involved in a number of cities which used street children as beggars. He said there was also an issue of budget allocation for NCRC.

The commission’s policy brief touches upon two major areas: protection risks, including neglect, exploitation by urban gangs, physical, emotional and sexual violence and exposure to substance abuse, and educational challenges.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2022