Child protection in emergencies, Dawn
This is apropos of the report ‘Flood-affected youth being tricked into evil jobs’ (Sept 28). Security of children under normal circumstances is a gigantic task that our society is already facing. However, issues of child protection in emergencies still aggravate the situation when a brutal side of so-called humanity is at its full bloom.
Children are prone to exploitation in emergencies, while government departments concerned don’t have well-defined and easily executable strategies to guard children against abuse, exploitation, and violent behaviour.
The existing statistics concerning child abuse for this year already depict a grim picture of brutality towards children; from January to June this year in Sindh, more than 56 high-profile cases of rape and sodomy with children have been highlighted in various media. Meanwhile, under the prevailing situation of emergency the number would have shot up dramatically.
Exploitation in return of ‘a promise’ to provide access to relief services has become so common that it ceases to be recognised as crime; even parents seem to be willing to employ their children in any ‘work’ if it ensures some monetary benefit.
Various mafias have expanded their activities, and IDP children are being forced to begging and other crimes. Child marriages have once again taken pace, trafficking of children of displaced families has been accelerated. Children have been neglected in terms of having access to relief services concerning health and hygiene.
Simultaneously, to the utter misfortune of children, Pakistan is one of the countries where children’s protection is not on priority of either society or the state. Because in spite of our commitment to international community to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, we have so far made little progress towards legislation to translate them in our national laws and policies. Although Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa has just passed its Child Protection Act 2010 — which also has numerous loopholes — its implementation is a matter of concern.
Punjab has amended the Punjab Neglected and Destitute Children’s Act but it requires a prolonged debate to decide whether the incorporated amendments deal with child protection issues at large.
However, Sindh and Balochistan have yet to bring Child Protection Bills in assemblies for debate.
The state needs to be vigilant towards the issues of children in order to avoid the post-disaster losses to the coming generation.
SUHAIL AHMED ABRO
Provincial Manager, Violence Against Children,
Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC)
Karachi
IDPs & sanitation
This is apropos of the report ‘Unhygienic conditions cause skin, eye infections at camps’ (Sept 16) by Faiza Ilyas. Dirty and bad sanitation conditions at flood relief camps are giving rise to infectious and fatal diseases.
There are no proper toilet and water facilities available and if there is any, that is not properly used by the IDPs. This gives us an insight into the living standards of our people. Most Pakistanis living in rural areas are not trained to use toilets, wash hands and clothes regularly.
As a result, besides food, shelter and other essential requirements, the government, NGOs and health communities are confronted with this ignorant and unsafe attitude of the IDPs.
We have people at relief camps who sensitise IDPs about basic hygiene lessons as this is directly related to their overall health problems. When these people will go back to their homes, they might take some good tips with them such as washing hands with soap after using toilets and before eating.
They should also be encouraged to build toilets within their homes, as a large number of rural population at present use fields for relieving themselves.
There is a need for developing long-term awareness programmes for people. NGOs and government bodies should come forward to create awareness, particularly in rural areas, about the benefits of hygiene and cleanliness as most of the common diseases they suffer from are caused because of poor hygiene practices and environment.
RAANA AFZAL
Karachi
Children are prone to exploitation in emergencies, while government departments concerned don’t have well-defined and easily executable strategies to guard children against abuse, exploitation, and violent behaviour.
The existing statistics concerning child abuse for this year already depict a grim picture of brutality towards children; from January to June this year in Sindh, more than 56 high-profile cases of rape and sodomy with children have been highlighted in various media. Meanwhile, under the prevailing situation of emergency the number would have shot up dramatically.
Exploitation in return of ‘a promise’ to provide access to relief services has become so common that it ceases to be recognised as crime; even parents seem to be willing to employ their children in any ‘work’ if it ensures some monetary benefit.
Various mafias have expanded their activities, and IDP children are being forced to begging and other crimes. Child marriages have once again taken pace, trafficking of children of displaced families has been accelerated. Children have been neglected in terms of having access to relief services concerning health and hygiene.
Simultaneously, to the utter misfortune of children, Pakistan is one of the countries where children’s protection is not on priority of either society or the state. Because in spite of our commitment to international community to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, we have so far made little progress towards legislation to translate them in our national laws and policies. Although Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa has just passed its Child Protection Act 2010 — which also has numerous loopholes — its implementation is a matter of concern.
Punjab has amended the Punjab Neglected and Destitute Children’s Act but it requires a prolonged debate to decide whether the incorporated amendments deal with child protection issues at large.
However, Sindh and Balochistan have yet to bring Child Protection Bills in assemblies for debate.
The state needs to be vigilant towards the issues of children in order to avoid the post-disaster losses to the coming generation.
SUHAIL AHMED ABRO
Provincial Manager, Violence Against Children,
Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC)
Karachi
IDPs & sanitation
This is apropos of the report ‘Unhygienic conditions cause skin, eye infections at camps’ (Sept 16) by Faiza Ilyas. Dirty and bad sanitation conditions at flood relief camps are giving rise to infectious and fatal diseases.
There are no proper toilet and water facilities available and if there is any, that is not properly used by the IDPs. This gives us an insight into the living standards of our people. Most Pakistanis living in rural areas are not trained to use toilets, wash hands and clothes regularly.
As a result, besides food, shelter and other essential requirements, the government, NGOs and health communities are confronted with this ignorant and unsafe attitude of the IDPs.
We have people at relief camps who sensitise IDPs about basic hygiene lessons as this is directly related to their overall health problems. When these people will go back to their homes, they might take some good tips with them such as washing hands with soap after using toilets and before eating.
They should also be encouraged to build toilets within their homes, as a large number of rural population at present use fields for relieving themselves.
There is a need for developing long-term awareness programmes for people. NGOs and government bodies should come forward to create awareness, particularly in rural areas, about the benefits of hygiene and cleanliness as most of the common diseases they suffer from are caused because of poor hygiene practices and environment.
RAANA AFZAL
Karachi
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