Provincial Minister for Minorities Affairs & Human Rights Khalil Tahir Sandhu has said that civil society, media, parents and teachers can play an effective role in the awareness campaign against torture and abuse of children.
He was addressing a seminar arranged by Minorities Affairs & Human Rights Department at Management & Professional Development Department against the torture and abuse of children. Representatives of Law, Prosecution, Planning & Development, Punjab University, Social Work, Labour, Ministry of Law & Justice, civil society and media were present. Member Provincial Assembly Shazia Tariq, Shakil Ivan, Shezad Munshi and Provincial Secretary Bushra Aman also attended the seminar. The speakers threw light on the social and economic problems and the need for implementation of law, monitoring mechanism and the role of media, parents and educational institutions in addressing the issue.
Khalil Tahir Sandhu said that children are the future of the nation and have equal rights over education and health. He said that there is a need for continuous struggle and to evolve a coordinated mechanism to protect children against violence and abuse. He said that setting up of a commission at provincial level to safeguard the rights of children is essential. He said that syllabus of educational institutions is being revised and necessary material is being included to protect basic rights and responsibilities of citizens. He said that persons involved in the abuse of children deserve no leniency. He said that psychological rehabilitation of abused children is of vital importance. He said that there is a need to eliminate causes of violence and abuse of children. He said that children should also know about their rights and laws. He stressed upon media to arrange programmes for the elimination of negative social attitudes. He said that Pakistan has signed the UN agreement for the protection of human rights in the light of which there is need of setting up a consortium. Khalil Tahir Sandhu said that a departmental sub-committee is being established for the protection of children rights and steps will be taken in this regard in the light of its recommendations.