[:en]BY ASIM SHAHZAD
LAHORE: The newly formed political government in Punjab is urged to prioritize child protection and integrate children’s issues into the mainstream governance discourse.
Search for Justice and the Children Advocacy Network (CAN) Pakistan have called for the Chief Minister to appoint a capable professional as an Advisor or Special Assistant on Child Protection. This appointment would ensure children’s issues and voices are represented in the cabinet, leading to improved child protection measures in the province. It would also set a precedent for other provinces and the federal government to implement their political commitment to child protection.
Search for Justice emphasizes that the current Chief Minister of Punjab must translate her commitment into tangible actions for children by adopting all necessary legislative, administrative, and other measures. They propose concrete strategic actions for the provincial government to ensure child protection across all spheres. SFJ suggests developing a comprehensive Child Protection Policy, followed by an action plan based on three layers: prevention, protection, and rehabilitation. This policy and action plan should be more than just a document; it should serve as a roadmap for all relevant stakeholders. Additionally, SFJ advocates for a robust and efficient case management and referral system, established through provincial legislation, to address incidents of violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect, harmful practices, and online harassment systematically and without delays.
Iftikhar Mubarik, Executive Director of Search for Justice, highlighted that the Punjab Child Labour Survey Report 2019-20 indicates 13.4% of children are involved in child labour. Many children working as domestic labourers are excluded due to the nature of their work. The magnitude of this issue cannot be managed by a single department. A comprehensive strategy to eradicate child labour and reintegrate out-of-school children into the educational system is necessary. The provincial government must reconsider child labour in domestic work and the significance of prohibiting it under The Punjab Domestic Workers Act, which has been insufficient over the past six years. This issue needs to be addressed either by incorporating it into provincial child protection laws or by adding it to the Pakistan Penal Code.
Rashida Qureshi, Program Manager at Search for Justice and Spokesperson for CAN Pakistan, stated that the issue of corporal punishment requires urgent provincial government action. Despite years of discussion, numerous incidents of physical abuse of children continue to be reported. She urged the Schools Education Department to address this issue immediately and initiate a consultative process with real stakeholders, including child protection professionals and CSOs, on the draft of The Punjab Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill. Ms. Qureshi praised the efforts of the Secretary of the School Education Department Punjab in promoting children’s participation by establishing Children Councils at school levels across the province, enhancing children’s leadership skills, and providing opportunities for them to propose unique ideas to address their issues through a participatory approach.
Search for Justice emphasized the urgent need to raise the minimum age of marriage for girls from 16 to 18 years. SFJ stressed that increasing the age alone is not sufficient; an effective mechanism must be established to swiftly act against perpetrators of child marriages and set up institutional frameworks. They called for a consistent, large-scale social and behavior change campaign to educate local communities, parents, and other stakeholders about the harmful effects of child marriages, especially on adolescent girls. They urged the present government to ensure that girls and women are fully aware of the legal framework and institutional arrangements available to combat violence against women and girls.
Search for Justice called for collaborative efforts from both federal and provincial governments to improve the implementation of the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018. SFJ recommended developing rules for the Act, notifying the SOPs for investigating juveniles in accordance with Section 7 of the JJSA, activating and strengthening Juvenile Justice Committees, and establishing and certifying observation homes and Juvenile Rehabilitation Centers as per Section 20 of the law.
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