ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the government has initiated various programs to ensure the protection of children’s rights.
In his message on World Children’s Day, the prime minister said the government is striving to ensure that child’s rights include development, education, healthcare, participation, dignity and security of children as envisaged in the UN convention on child rights are implemented.
He said a national commission on the rights of children has been set up which monitors the situation of child rights in the country. While highlighting the legislation passed for the protection of children, the prime minister said the government is focusing on child nutrition and child-friendly learning environment. He said the creation of a violence-free society and ending child abuse is one of the government’s priorities.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said that Pakistan has expressed commitment to protect the basic rights of all children.
In a statement on the occasion of World Children Day, the spokesman said Pakistan has undertaken a range of institutional and legal measures to eliminate exploitation of children and discrimination based on gender, religion and ethnicity. He said the government remains committed to eradicating the incidences of violence against children, child labour and forced marriages.
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The spokesperson said the plight of children in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir should not be forgotten on this day. He said these children, living in one of the world’s largest prison, deserve urgent attention of the international community particularly the United Nations.
He said children in occupied Kashmir have been traumatised by the 15-month-long physical and digital siege with frequent incidences of house demolitions, arbitrary detentions and use of force including through pellet guns.
He said the international community must be sensitive to the plight of oppressed children in the occupied territory and urge India to immediately stop its illegal and inhuman policies and practices that are in contravention of the Convention on Rights of Child.
