Two-Thirds of Schoolchildren Iodine Deficient

FAISALABAD, Feb 24: Deficiency of micronutrient malnutrition is one of the major causes of deaths among children and women in Pakistan.

This was claimed in a report jointly launched by the World Health Organization, World Bank, Unicef, USAID and Micronutrient Initiative Pakistan (MIP), at the second day of the three-day international conference on “Recent advances in human nutrition with special reference to vulnerable groups,” at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF). The report titled “Investing in the future: A united call to action on vitamin and mineral deficiencies”.

 
Suicide Centres to Be Turned Into Playgrounds


ISLAMABAD Feb 24: The federal sports ministry said that training centres for suicide bombers in tribal areas would be converted into playing fields and youth in those regions would be motivated to take part in sporting activities.

 
Student Freed After Protest


BATKHELA, Feb 22: A 9th grade student kidnapped from Dargai was recovered by Malakand Levies on Monday a day after protesters took to streets and blocked the GT Road. Unknown kidnappers abducted Alamgir when he was coming home from his shop.

Reacting to the incident armed local people chanting anti-administration slogans came on the road. The procession was led by local ANP. They asked the administration to expose the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

 
Two Brothers Die on Road


LAHORE, Feb 22: Two minor brothers were killed in a road accident in Lahore on Monday.

Protesters blocked Airport Road after a speeding dumper ran over two children, who were riding a motorcycle. Kashif, 13, and brother Shabbir, 9, were returning to their father’s shop when the tragic incident occurred. Around 150 people blocked Airport Road and shouted slogans against the absconding truck driver.

 

Pakistan Ranks 144th in UNDP’s Human Development Index

February 23: Pakistan ranks 144th in UNDP’s Human Development Index (HDI), out of total 178 countries. According to UNDP’s HDI report, Pakistan faces enormous challenges, including poverty, poor healthcare facilities, illiteracy and a continuously soaring population.

The government released between 11 to 25 percent funds earmarked for environment, education and health sectors during the first six months of the current fiscal year (July-December), out of the budgetary allocation, which reflects lack of commitment to these critical sectors.

Finance Ministry released Rs 268 million to Environment Ministry for development projects during the first half of current financial year, which was 11.8 percent of the Rs 2.253 billion earmarked for the entire financial year 2009-10.

 

Senator Laments Child Sexual Abuse

ISLAMABAD Feb, 23: Balochistan Senator Surraiya Amiruddin lamented the sexual abuse of children around the country and requested her colleagues to adopt these children. “Innocent children are being sexually abused by truck drivers and other people with low income,” she informed the House. She said it is a very sensitive issue and the government needs to take steps to take care of these children such as their rehabilitation in SOS villages

 

Anti-Measles Drive Kicks Off in Karachi

KARACHI, Feb 21: The Sindh health department is launching a supplementary immunisation campaign against measles in children in the city on Monday.
During the special anti-measles activities that will continue till March 5, about 5.16 million children, aged between nine months and 13 years, living in 178 union councils of the city will be vaccinated.

A source said that about 40 per cent of blood samples of children sent to the National Institute of Health, Islamabad, had been tested positive for measles in 2009. Of the 250 confirmed measles cases, 217 (86 per cent) pertained to Karachi, the source said.

 

Justice Demanded for Gang-Rape Victim of Nagarparkar

KARACHI, Feb 21: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed its deep concern over the gang-rape of a young Kohli girl. According to the HRCP, a 17-year-old girl of village Mokryo, was allegedly kidnapped on January 24 and gang-raped by an influential person and his accomplices. Next day the victim was thrown in front of her house. The father of the victim approached the Nangarparkar police station to lodge a case against alleged rapists but the police refused to register the FIR.

 

Minor Boy Becomes Victim of Acid Attack

SUKKUR, Feb 19: A minor boy suffered severe burn injuries when a masked man threw acid on him in Jacobabad. The incident took place when eight-year-old Tanveer Abro was returning to his house from a workshop where he worked.

Tanveer was taken to civil hospital in Jacobabad where doctors said he had received 40 to 50 percent burns and was in critical condition. He was referred to Hyderabad because only hospitals Karachi and Hyderabad have facilities to treat burns injuries.
He said on Friday evening that he was waiting at the Civil Lines Police Station for registration of the FIR.

 

Children of Detained Policemen Seek Mercy

QUETTA, Feb 19: Children of the police personnel who were arrested or suspended after violent protests on January 25 have appealed to Balochistan chief minister to pardon their fathers who were suspended or arrested. The children after marching through various parts of the city on Friday assembled in front of the press club.

The children said their fathers had no political motives and their protest was only aimed at drawing the government’s attention towards their plight.
Hundreds of policemen had taken part in a rally at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat to press the provincial government to raise their salary.

SPARC Views N News
 
Bonded Labourers Win Freedom with SPARC’s Help
 
Training Report on Child Rights & Child Protection Issues
 
Child Rights National Conference and Reel View Festival
The Role of Media in Promoting Child Rights
 
Press Release
 
 

SPARC ---REEL VIEW FESTIVAL
NOVEMBER 24-25, 2009

 
Child Rights Committees Constitution
 
Child Rights Committees Constitution (urdu)
 
The State of Bonded Labor Launched
 
Table- 1 Juvenile Population in Pakistan Prisons from 2002 to 2009
Month (Dec) Under-trial Convicted Total
2002 4513 936 4979
2003 3049 537 3060
2004 2689 439 2539
2005 2682 363 2368
2006 2677 231 2266
2007 2316 205 2018
2008 2043 153 1788
2009 1500 132 1347
Source: Population Statements from IG Prisons Pakistan  

 

 
eNewsletter
E-Mail:
Juvenile Justice
   
 

The Borstal Jail in Bahawalpur is the largest children’s jail in the country. At the end of 2002 it housed 401 children, out of which 232 were convicted. During a visit in 2002, SPARC came across 20 children from the Frontier at this facility. They were extremely isolated both culturally and socially and missing their families terribly.

The Borstal Jail in Faisalabad became functional in 2002 and some children were transferred to the facility.

The Punjab Youthful Offenders Ordinance 1983 was notified in January 2000 after awaiting its enforcement notification since 1983. The Certified School for Youthful Offenders in Sahiwal was the only one established under the provisions of the Ordinance but was closed down recently.

In August 2001, the Punjab Home Department on the grounds of the introduction of the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance 2000 directed that juveniles aged 15 to 18 and those below 15 should be kept in separate barracks within the juvenile cells located in adult prisons.

The President of Pakistan has the power under Article 45 of the Constitution to grant pardon, reprieve and respite, and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by any court, tribunal or other authority. In November 2000, the President granted a general two-month remission to all prisoners, which resulted in the release of 39 children from the Lahore prisons. In December 2000, on the occasion of Eid, 21 juvenile prisoners were released in the Punjab Province as a consequence of presidential reprieve. In addition, 53 juvenile prisoners benefited which implies that their sentences got reduced; an additional 82 benefited when a similar remission was granted over Eid ul Aza in March 2001.

Juvenile Prisoners in Sindh (Total Juvenile Prisoners in the Sindh)

Sindh has always benefited from the spirit of philanthropy and the spirit of volunteerism. As a result, the Certified School in Karachi, established under the provisions of the Sindh Children Act 1955, the oldest law relating to children in force in the whole country, has the best conditions of any prison in Pakistan. It also has the largest child population.

However, the situation is just the opposite in Interior Sindh. Unlike the rest of Pakistan, children in most of the 16 prisons in the province are kept with adult prisoners, which results in potential situations of sexual exploitation. The authorities in Sindh are also tight-lipped about the state of affairs in the Interior Sindh and always reluctant to share information. Ironically, the same officials are forthcoming about the jails in Karachi. However, according to information obtained by SPARC, as of December 2002 there were approximately 470 juvenile under-trial prisoners and 65 convicted children. Out of this, more than 340 were kept at the Youthful Offenders Industrial School in Karachi.

In May 2001, SPARC met the Chief Secretary of Sindh and asked him to urgently look into the possibility of separating children from adults in Interior Sindh. In September 2000, more than 50 children were rescued from the Hyderabad prison alone who were regularly sexually abused by adult criminals, according to Sindh IG Prison’s own admission. An inquiry was ordered but results remain awaited as they have never been made public.

The prisons in Sindh generally are overcrowded. According to provincial authorities, about 16,000 prisoners were lodged against a capacity of 8,000 in the Sindh’s 16 jails. Out of this, 4,200 were crammed in the Central Jail Karachi alone against capacity of only 911. There were only two bathrooms for 200 inmates in a C class barrack. The Central Jail Karachi needs about 300 bathrooms, but has only 70. The government was providing only Rs. 10.75 per prisoner for three meals a day. It should not be any wonder that the prisoners remain malnourished.

Juvenile Prisoners in Balochistan

In November 2000, the Balochistan Social Welfare Minister asked SPARC to visit the District Jail Quetta to recommend to her changes that could be accomplished. A total of 47 under-trial and seven convicted juvenile prisoners were found in the Jail by SPARC during the visit, which was accompanied with the Social Welfare Minister. SPARC requested the latter to personally look into the matter and order the release of the maximum number; 13 children as a consequence were released on the Universal Children’s Day 2000, and in December 2000 and March 2001. In November 2000, SPARC managed to get the Balochistan Governor to announce that his Province will soon have its own juvenile law.


There are a total of ten jails in Balochistan; three are Central and seven are District Jails. There are no separate or special prisons for children. Most convicted children are kept in the Mach prison and the majority of under-trial prisoners are kept at the Quetta prison. In December 2002, there were 54 under-trial prisoners and 103 convicted children.
Like the Frontier Province, Balochistan continues to lack any laws relating to children and juvenile justice.

   
  Home | Juvenile Justice | 1) | 2) | more
Terms of Use | Privacy Statement | Control Panel ©2008 SPARC. All rights reserved Designed by Panacea Communications