HYDERABAD: Representatives of the Society for Protection of Rights of Child (Sparc) on Friday reported various incidents related to children, including abuses, murders, underage marriages and others in 2015.
Speaking at a press conference held at the local press club, Sparc executive director Sadia Hussain, representative Kashif Bajir and others expressed grave concerns over child abuses and other related incidents during 2015.
They said 418 underage marriages took place last year, 380 children went missing, 83 murdered and 160 children were sexually assaulted at various places while 280 fell prey to abuses at schools and seminaries.
They said incidents of children’s sale and purchase rose significantly, adding that there was a pitiable condition of children in juvenile jails despite existence of a law to prevent them. They said child protection units and other related bodies were in poor condition for want of funds.
They presented a couple of demands including that all bills related to child rights should be passed in the national and provincial assemblies immediately; units be set up for their protection; school dropout rates be controlled, proper measure be taken under the Sindh Early Child Marriage Act, 2013; law should be enacted to control children trafficking forthwith, etc.
Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2016