BAJAUR: In a first step towards ensuring protection and welfare of children in the merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) supported child protection unit (CPU) was inaugurated here on Thursday.

Social Welfare Department’s Additional Secretary Mohammad Farooq was the chief guest on the occasion, while Deputy Commissioner Shahid Ali Khan and other senior officials were also in attendance at the CPU office.

Speaking on the occasion, Mohammad Farooq said that establishment of Unicef’s supported CPU in the district was the reflection of the provincial government’s commitment to ensuring protection of children at risk, and fostering a safer environment for the most vulnerable members of society in the merged districts. He thanked the Unicef for assisting in establishing and running of the facility, the first of its kind in the entire merged districts.

Highlighting the importance of the facility, the additional secretary informed the participants that the establishment of CPU was imperative to know the multiple problems and issues of the local children and to deal with them in an efficient manner. Mr Farooq asked the elders, political and religious leaders and social activists to play their due role in protection of children from exploitation by informing the local CPU officials about the unlawful behaviour towards children.

Addressing the event, Unicef’s children protection specialist Sohail Ahmad said the unit would focus on identifying, preventing, and responding to children at risk ensuring their fundamental rights to life, development, participation, and protection as well. He said the Unicef Pakistan would continue its technical and financial support for the protection of children in the merged districts in the form of children protection units.

Deputy Commissioner Shahid Ali Khan, while addressing the ceremony, said establishment of the CPU was a significant development in protection of children from all forms of abuse in the district.

He informed the participants that under the KP Child Protection Act, 2010, the authorities had formed the child protection committees in various parts of the district for the purpose of protecting children from abuse and neglect irrespective of their status and nationalities.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2024