ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: Speakers at a ceremony here on Wednesday called on the government to approve the Child Protection Bill 2006 to ensure protection of child rights.

The bill was drafted through the collaborative efforts of the civil society and the government. However, due to the government’s lack of interest, the bill could not be presented in the National Assembly for approval.

The ceremony was organised by two ‘Save the Children’ and Plan Pakistan’, two NGOs, to formally launch a year-long campaign ‘20-20 campaign: protect us, provide us, involve us.’

The speakers also stressed the need for revision of the existing child and family laws and a ban on corporal punishments to the children

Speaking on the occasion, Country Director of Save the Children, UK, Madeline Wright said the campaign aimed at amendment and approval of the bill, ratification of minimum care standards in institutions and for implementation of the ban on corporal punishment.

In his presentation on learning without fear, Plan Pakistan Country Director Haider Waseem Yaqub discussed over 40 forms of corporal punishments being practiced both at home and school.The practice is a common ritual in many societies that makes children flee from schools, keeping the dropout ratio stagnant at 50 per cent, and that calls for the need of child-friendly environment at schools, he added.