ISLAMABAD: Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) observed International Street Children day on Tuesday. The day aims at giving voices to the millions of street children and creating awareness about the deleterious state of the children. The organization organized an event with children of Meher Abadi-a slum area in Islamabad to highlight the significance of the Day.
Children of the event also shared their views and stories on the occasion and they appreciated SPARC’s role and efforts for their rights. They performed different activities like role-plays, games, etc., and highlighted the issues and problems of the street children.
Ms. Khalida Ahmed, Member Board of Directors SPARC said globally, around 28 million children are homeless due to ongoing conflicts and account for almost half of the refugee population. Despite near-universal adaptation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, there is a considerable lack of effort and visible action internationally and nationally in addressing the plight of street children.
She further added unfortunately, more than 2.5 million street children are facing a bleak future in Pakistan. Almost half of the children, 56%, run away due to domestic violence, 22% are out-of-school or other educational facilities and 22% are working to support the family.
SPARC Executive Director, Ms. Asiya Arif said, Pakistan needs to follow four steps of the United Nations’ General comment on street children: commit to equality, protect every child, provide access to services and create specialized solutions. These are foundational steps for formulating policies and creating multi-prong institutional responses in tackling the issue of street children in Pakistan.
Mr. Farmanullah Khan Manager of Child Protection SPARC expressed all children in the world have special rights and they need their rights to be protected in all respects without any prejudice in any way. This is necessary to ensure their well-being, successful development and their rights. Not only parents, but all governments and state institutions have duty to create a child-friendly environment and to promote children’s rights in order to ensure the future.
Mr. Waseem Ahmed, Program Manager said Pakistan ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 12, 1990 and the successive governments have renewed their commitment to creating friendly environment for all Pakistani children. Unfortunately, huge challenges remain for them in the country. There are laws regarding child Education, Health, Nutrition, Juvenile Justice, Violence, Neglect, Labour and Marriage but unfortunately these laws have not been fully implemented.
In the end, the SPARC team thanked all the participants of the event and they committed that they will celebrate each year this day with new enthusiasm and spirit so that they make it possible that every child enjoys his rights.