PESHAWAR:KP Secretary for Social Welfare & Women’s Development,
Zulfiqar Ali Shah Tuesday said that with support from the civil society and general public, implementation of laws pertaining to child protection has become more effective.
He was speaking at a Stakeholder Consultation on Child Protection organised by Aawaz II, a programme managed by the British Council with support from UK Aid.
More than 100 civil society activists, journalists, and academics from 11 KP districts, including merged areas, actively interacted with government officials in this regard.
Speaking about the Child Marriage Restraint Bill that is under consideration, Secretary Social Welfare explained that the law passed in 1929 was being updated.
As per instructions from KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, efforts are being made
to involve all relevant stakeholders to finalize the Bill, he added.
Deputy Chief of the KP Child Protection & Welfare Commission, Ijaz Khan provided details of a public awareness campaign to prevent child abuse.
“1121 Helpline has been set up and Child Protection Units are functional in 19 KP districts, including 7 in the merged areas, to help citizens access the Commission for redressal of child abuse,” he apprised participants.
Ijaz Khan encouraged public utilisation of available services so that the Commission is able to serve them better.
Imran Takkar, Co-Chair of Aawaz II KP Provincial Forum and a well-known child rights’ activist pointed out four issues related to child labour.
The first was the need for credible data, especially considering the impact of COVID 19. Secondly, he emphasised the need to pass subsidiary legislation (including rules and regulations) and allocated budgets so that laws can be
implemented, lastly, he pointed out the need for effective monitoring.
Director Labour for KP, Irfanullah Khan, announced that the KP Government was working on a Child Labour Survey.
Its field data collection will begin on 1 October 2021. He also shared that the rules of business for the KP Prohibition of Employment of Children, Act 2015 have been
prepared.
Responding to a question raised by many participants, Mr. Khan explained that the
survey will provide data on children forced into labour due to economic pressures.
If these cases are within a manageable scale, there is a possibility of providing social protection through programmes like Ehsaas, for families that lose income from a child employed.
Rashida Dohad, Aawaz II Provincial Lead in KP from Omar Asghar Khan Foundation, said
that such consultations help generate ideas and promote engagement between citizens and the government.
It increases trust and helps collective actions for promoting child protection in KP.
Aawaz II Programme works with local communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to promote the rights of children, women, youth, and other vulnerable groups, to work towards a more inclusive, tolerant and peaceful Pakistan.