ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: Pakistan has reaffirmed its determination and commitments to safeguarding the rights of children. In his message on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Convention on Child Rights (CCR) being observed across the globe on Saturday, President Gen Pervez Musharraf said being a signatory to the CCR Pakistan would play its due role for the protection of child rights.
"As Pakistan joins the international community in observing the Universal Children's Day, we reaffirm our determination and sincere commitments made to safeguard the rights of children," the president said.
Islam enjoined upon us the sacred task of care, protection and development of children. In pursuit of our religious as well as international obligations, the government is fully cognizant of the protection and development needs of children, "who are our greatest resource", he said.
As an Islamic republic, we are under obligation to observe the best interest of children and provide them accesses to development opportunities without any discrimination and regardless of their status, caste, colour, creed or language, he added.
The president said: "On this occasion, I express solidarity with the children of Pakistan and reaffirm my pledge for their welfare, protection and development to help them (children) become useful citizens of this country and also productive members of the global village."
The government, he said, was carrying forward an agenda for substantial reforms which would have a positive impact on the lives of children in future.
The president said he would like to emphasize that the task of child welfare required partnerships of all public and private agencies. He called upon the civil society, NGOs and philanthropists as well as the international development partners, the media, the corporate sector and children themselves, to come together and play their due role in the national efforts to improve the lives of children.
"I urge the federal and provincial governments to strengthen mechanisms that are dealing with children and ensure that child protection system is in place and on the par with our national and international obligations," he said.
The president also appreciated the role of the UN and non- governmental organizations for their efforts and advocacy for child rights and hoped that they would continue pursuing their mission.
PM MESSAGE: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, in his message, said it was heartening to note that Pakistan had joined the international community to celebrate the day with fervour and enthusiasm.
He said Pakistan demonstrated its firm commitment and accorded top priority to children in seeking their survival, protection, development and participation rights.
Pakistan was one of the six initiators of the World Summit for Children in 1990 and took the lead in signing and ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), he said.
The country, the prime minister said, had also ratified ILO Convention 182 on the Elimination of Worst Form of Child Labour, and signed optional protocols to the CRC on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and pornography to safeguard the rights of children.
Our policy in this regard is guided by Islamic injunctions and is also enshrined in the Constitution, he said. Mr Aziz said Pakistan had embarked upon a multifaceted initiative for providing better care, health and education to children under the Public Sector Development Programme, particularly the Education Sector Reforms, Primary Health Care Programme, Poverty Alleviation Programme and Access to Justice Programme.
"I am glad to note that the Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education is currently working on a plan of action for children, setting targets and development goals, which will help promote an enabling environment for children.
Under the plan every child will have equal opportunity and access to grow, develop and enrich his/her evolving capacities and capabilities to the fullest possible extent without any discrimination," he said.
It was encouraging to note that civil society organizations were also playing an active role to complement government's efforts in providing an enabling environment to our children, he said.
"I would urge all concerned to ensure that children in Pakistan enjoy good environmental surroundings, access to health facilities, quality education, leisure and recreation. We as a nation should commit to find out ways and means to protect our children because they are the future human resource of this country and a trust in our hands," the prime minister added.
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