CRM Press Release in accordance with “The International Day for Street Children”

Press Release: Legislative Measures and Budgetary Allocations for Children Sought

Islamabad, April 12:  Increasing number of children living and/or working on the street indicates that regardless of vows, the Government of Pakistan has failed to safeguard the rights of children in the country. A press release issued by the Child Rights Movement (CRM) Pakistan, in accordance with ‘The International Day for Street Children’, raises serious concerns over the absence of adequate legislation, poor budgetary allocations and slow progress in implementation of recommendations of international human rights bodies for the protection of children without appropriate care mainly children in street situations.

Children living and/or working on the street are most visible in all major cities of Pakistan which include Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta and Islamabad.  According to the government sources, there are as much as 1.5 million children living and/or working on the street in all over the country, however civil society organisations estimate this figure up to 2.5 million. These children easily become victims of different kind of abuse, organised criminal gangs, drug pushers and begging mafias who take these children under their wings and use them in criminal activities. Many children also resort on their own to begging and petty crimes, raising enough money to buy themselves food and their favorite drug.

Unfortunately, the Islamabad Capital Territory and Balochistan province do not have legislation for the protection of children living and/or working on the street whereas the implementation of the Punjab Destitute and Neglected Children Act 2004, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection and Welfare Act 2010 and the Sindh Child Protection Authority Act 2011, the ICT Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2012 is much needed.

The CRM regretted that the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s recommendations on children in street situation have hardly been addressed by the State which includes a systematic assessment of children in street situations, providing with adequate protection and assistance, nutrition and shelter as well as with health care and education opportunities and respecting the rights of children in street situations to be heard when developing programmes.

The rapidly increasing phenomenon of children living and/or working on the street in federal capital reflects weakness of the State. The CRM demands enactment of the Balochistan Child Protection and Welfare Bill and  the Right to Free and Compulsory Education for all provinces, the Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bills which will greatly help to address the problems of children living and/or working on the street. The CRM also urges president for ensuring PPP government’s commitment which had declared 2013 the year of child rights and allocate adequate budgets and establish rehabilitation centers for these children across the country. The CRM also urged the State to consider these children the rights holders rather a passive object of welfare.