Talks held for implementation of plan against child abuses
KARACHI (June 20 2007): A comprehensive consultation programme for ‘Developing Mechanism’ for the implementation of National Plan of Action (NPA) for Children was held at a local hotel here on Tuesday by the Provincial Commission for Child Welfare and Development (PCCWD).
During consultations, speakers Abdul Qadir Magsi, Secretary, Social Welfare Culture and Tourism, Qurban Ali Memon, provincial co-ordinator social welfare, and Hassan Mangi stressed the need to introduce awareness programmes among the masses about child abuses in the country and both print and electronic must play positive role in this regard.
They said that child mortality, under-five mortality, school dropout rate, vaccination, child abuses, beggary and child labour were very sensitive issues and needed to be solved with full attention, “because they are our next generation”.
“If we don’t care about these issues, how the children will be able to face the world challenges? If they are strong, healthy and educated, it would mean that our nation is able to tackle the new world,” they said. In this regard both provincial and governments must give due attention on education of children and also on health, they added.
The UN General Assembly Special Session for Children (UNGASSC) was held on May 8-10 2002, wherein progress on achievement of goals and targets were set. During the world summit 1990 these were reviewed and new goals/targets were set in the from of World Declaration and Plan of Action in the outcome document ‘A World Fit for Children’. The Nations of the world were to develop their respective Plan of Action in line with World Plan of Action for the period 2005-2015.
In Pakistan, Minister of Social Welfare and Special Education (National Commission for Child Welfare and Development) took the responsibility to prepare a comprehensive Plan of Action as per devised framework of the (UNGASSC 2002) outcome document.
‘A World fit for Children’: Accordingly a National Plan of Action was prepared through a wide ranging consultative process and was placed before the Federal Cabinet for approval.
The Cabinet at its meeting held on May 26, 2006 approved the said Plan of Action for children. The NPA for Children has ownership at highest political forum. Thus it is an expression of national and political commitment towards Child Rights in Pakistan. To ensure effective implementation of NPA for Children, a PSDP project, titled ‘Implementation of NPA for Children, Islamabad’, with total cost of Rs 13 million for period of 36 months was proposed. This was approved by DDWP on March 30 and an allocation of Rs 2,000 million (Revised) was made for the current financial year (2006-07). Similarly, the process for recruitment of staff and procurement of machinery/equipment and furniture was completed in February 2007.
The NCCWD has recently launched the PSDP project ‘Implementation of National Plan of Action for Children’ and plans to organise a series of consultations in collaboration with the provincial Social Welfare Departments to mobilise partners for effective implementation of the NPA. In this regard a consultative process has been initiated at the provincial level. Second consultation is being organised in Karachi. Objectives are ‘Developing Mechanism’ for the Implementation of National Plan of Action for Children, to activate the District Commissions for Child Welfare and Development (DCC WDs), identify local persons for implementation of NPA for Children at provincial and districts levels.
METHODOLOGY: The nature of consultations was interactive with the purpose to bring forth feasible and workable solutions to conceptualise the main target of developing mechanism for the implementation of NPA for Children.
In the First session of provincial consultations two presentations were delivered. Arshad Mehmood gave first presentation on NPA. This presentation was an insight into the NPA, its mechanisms, the strategy for its implementation and the targets, and goals set for NPA. The presentation made clear the concept of NPA for further course of consultations.
EXPECTATION FROM WORK GROUP: In the light of the objectives of consultations it is expected that the work group would develop a mechanism for implementation of NPA at District level and give suggestions and recommendations for active co-ordination in implementation strategy with provincial and national stakeholders. The groups will also identify focal persons for the implementation of NPA at Provincial and District levels.
METHODOLOGY OF WORK GROUP: The aim of the work group was the result-oriented discussion among the participants so as to reach a logical conclusion regarding the prime focus of the consultations. The group will thoroughly be facilitated by the organisers of the consultations.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:6/20/2007
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