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.

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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  

 

 
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UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
   
 

The concept of child rights has evolved considerably over the past century, and the growing concern for the plight of children is reflected in a number of international documents and events.

Some milestones in the history of child rights are:
   

The adoption in 1919 by the first International Labor Assembly of the Convention on the Minimum Age of Entrance to Employment.

The Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child adopted by the League of Nations in 1924.

UNICEF was constituted in 1946 to help provide emergency aid to child victims of the Second World War.

On November 20, 1953 the first Universal Children’s Day was celebrated. It has since become an annual event highlighting children’s issues.

On November 20, 1959 the United Nations adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.

The UN General Assembly declared 1979 the International Year of the Child. Poland initiated a proposal for a Convention on the Rights of the Child, as it was felt that the Declaration of the Rights of the Child was not sufficient to protect children’s rights, as it was not binding on governments.
In 1989 the final text of the Convention was submitted to the UN General Assembly and was adopted the same year.
On September 2, 1990 the Convention on the Rights of the Child came into force after receiving the required 20 ratifications.
On September 30, 1990, 71 Heads of States and Governments met at the UN Headquarters for the World Summit on Children and adopted the Summit Declaration and Plan of Action for the Survival, Protection and Development of Children.
On May 8 to 10, 2002, world leaders met at the UN General Assembly Special Session on Children (UNGASS) to review the progress over the last decade as presented in the Secretary-General’s report, “We the Children: Meeting the Promises of the World Summit for Children”.
The outcome document of the United Nations Special Session on Children, “A World Fit for Children”, presents the roadmap for the next decade.

Standards Set by the Convention on the Rights of the Child

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC), described as a “Magna Carta” for children, is the most widely ratified treaty in the world, confirming that there are certain basic ideals that are universally accepted despite cultural and religious variations. Its 54 Articles detail the individual rights of any person under 18 years of age to develop to his or her full potential, free from discrimination, hunger and want, neglect, exploitation, or other abuses. The UN CRC’s definition of a child removed the ambiguities in international law in this regard. Furthermore, Article 3 of the CRC, characterized as the umbrella provision of the Convention, calls for the “best interests” of the child to be the primary consideration in all actions concerning children. This is a valuable and significant extension of the “best interests” principle that previously applied mostly to divorce and custody matters, and provides guidance in cases where there are conflicts between different rights.

Salient Features of the Convention

The UN CRC’s substantive Articles covering the rights of children can broadly be grouped under the following four headings:

Survival: These Articles deal with subjects such as child’s right to life, right to be cared for by parents, right to healthcare services, obligation of the State to diminish infant and child mortality, to combat diseases and malnutrition and develop preventive healthcare.

Development: These Articles cover subjects like the right of the child to adequate nutrition, basic education, freedom of expression, right to information, conscience religion, association and peaceful assembly, right to privacy and protection of honor and reputation, and the State’s obligation to provide social programs and recreation for children.

Protection: These Articles deal with subjects such as a child’s right to a name and nationality, to be shielded from physical, mental and sexual abuse, right of non-involvement in warfare, protection from torture and all other forms of child exploitation, right not to be separated from parents and to maintain contacts with separated parents, and safeguards against arrest and detention

Participation: Articles dealing with participation call on nations to take into account the evolving needs of children as they mature. Participation rights thus refer to traditional civil rights based on the right to express one’s views, to be heard and to participate in decision making that impacts ones life.

Ratification, Implementation and Reporting Procedures

Ratification of a convention is a declaration by a nation that it is willing to be bound by its provisions and answerable to the international community if it fails to comply with them. The process usually involves the acceptance by parliaments and governments, which must draft or modify national laws to conform to the provisions of the convention.

The implementation provisions of the UN CRC define how compliance with it will be monitored and the conditions under which it will come into force. Following ratification, reports on the measures adopted by governments to give effect to the rights recognized in the Convention are to be submitted by State Parties within two years of entry into force, and thereafter every five years.UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

The UN CRC envisages the establishment of a Committee of 18 experts elected by the countries that ratify it, which reviews the national reports, asks for more information as needed and informs the UN General Assembly every two years on the status of compliance.

   
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