Pakistan still has 7m child labour | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Pakistan still has 7m child labour

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan still has seven million child labour whereas 24,407 juveniles under 18 have died as a result of crime and other forms of violence since 2003.

This horrifying data was revealed in a document of Population Welfare Ministry obtained by TheNation. The document further says that the number of street children in Pakistan has reached 35,000 and 8,356 kids are residing in various institutions across the country.

Furthermore 2,207 offspring under 18 have committed suicide since 2003, and 416 children died owing to traffic accidents.

Out of total 24,407 children died as a result of crime and other forms of violence, in 2003, 3,859 kids became victim of violence, in the year 2004, 4,181 children, in 2005 the figures touched to 4,763 while during 2006, 4,120 children fell prey to various types of criminal activities.

As many as 4393 children were murdered during the period under review and 384 children died owing to police torture. The number of offspring raped and died afterwards recorded at 2,098 and 1,828 children fell prey of sodomy during the aforementioned period.

Likewise, 2,310 children died due to torture and 6,870 kids were found missing. The number of children kidnapped and then killed recorded at 6,298 and 216 children fell victim to social evil of karo kari from 2003 to 2006.

The government promulgated Juvenile Justice System Ordinance 2000, for providing quick justice and protection to the juveniles involved in criminal litigation.

Under the ordinance a person under the age of 18 years has been acknowledged as a child who has special care in justice system. The ordinance is a federal law and provides unified juvenile courts for all the provinces.

There will be one set of courts through out the country run according to the Ordinance. The Ordinance has barred death penalty, handcuffs unless necessary, separation of juveniles from adults, exclusive jurisdiction to juvenile courts, timeframe of four months for the conclusion of trial, offences carrying ten years punishment are made bailable for children under 15 years of age and prohibiting the publication of juvenile courts’ proceeding defaming the child.

The Ordinance has also banned keeping juveniles in police station in bailable offences. An allocation of Rs 4,947 million has been made in the Ten Year Perspective Development Plan for the Period 2001-11 for implementation of the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance 2000.
Source: The Nation
Date:9/8/2007