Children’s safety is collective responsibility of society: Asad Qaiser

ISLAMABAD: On the occasion of Child Labour Day, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has said children were the asset of the nation and it was a collective responsibility of the society to safe and educate the younger generation.

In his message, Asad Qaiser said, “children are our future and we have to protect the rights of the children to ensure their better future.” The speaker said a suitable environment was necessary for the education, training and mental and physical fitness of the children.

The younger generation had the capacity to change the fortune of the nation and they needed love and attention to grow, he added. Asad Qaiser said the present government was undertaking legislation to curb child labour.

The government was taking steps to alleviate poverty, he said and resolved to continue the work to provide equal opportunities and education facilities to children.

In his message, Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri said protection of the rights of children was a high priority for the government. The government would ensure implementation of laws that preserve the rights of children, he added.

World Day Against Child Labour 2020 is being observed across the globe with a focus on the impact of coronavirus crisis on child labour.

The COVID-19 health pandemic and the resulting economic and labour market shock are having a huge impact on people’s lives and livelihoods.

Unfortunately, children are often the first to suffer and the crisis can push millions of vulnerable children into child labour.

There are an estimated 152 million children in child labour, 72 million of which are in hazardous work. These children are now at even greater risk of facing circumstances that are even more difficult and working longer hours.

In a message on the eve of this day, Minister of Human Rights Shireen Mazari said that we must reaffirm our collective commitment to protect our children and ensure that each child is given the opportunity to realize their potential.

She said that this year, as the world confronts an unprecedented pandemic, children face an increased risk of child labour, child marriages and other forms of exploitation.