Rights of Children

Statement on Agenda Item 60: Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Children and Follow-up to the Outcome of the Special session on Children in the Third Committee October 16, 2008

Chairperson

Distinguished Delegates,

1. At the outset, let me take this opportunity to thank Secretary General for his comprehensive report on the follow-up to the special session of the General Assembly on children. The report provides a comprehensive analysis on how far the world has come during past five years to achieve the goals of the special session on children. Those included reducing child and maternal mortality, malnutrition, ensuring universal primary education, protecting children against abuse, and exploitation and combating HIV/AIDS;
2. At the same time the report also rings an alarm bell by calling for a greater sense of urgency for Governments and the international community to achieve those goals of the special session on children.

Chairperson,

3. Investing in children is investing in future. The rights of the child are too often forgotten, disregarded, marginalized or taken for granted. Crimes such as violence against children, general physical and mental abuse, poverty, human slavery and child trafficking are still rampant in various parts of the world. This violence and maltreatment against children exacts not only impart an extra-ordinary social and moral burden but an economic cost on the society. Its effects become visible in the long run as generations grow and lack quality and skilled people.
4. It is therefore protection of rights of children cannot be isolated from development perspective and treatment of poverty at all levels. It is quite encouraging to note that international community has come at least little far in strengthening its commitments towards children. More children are getting proper education, health facilities, nutrition, drinking water, sanitation, shelter and care then ever before. However, as indicated by Secretary General in his report, still some areas reflect a dismal picture. Challenges of inequality, injustice, poverty, discrimination on the basis of gender, ethnicity, race, religion, majority against minority and migrant children still persist.

Chairperson

5. The 1990 World Summit for Children (WSC) was a global landmark event. The Summit adopted a progressive Plan of Action heralding the elevation of the rights of the child to the forefront of the global agenda. This was the first universal effort to prepare a road map for the children of the world. The World Summit was then followed by the twenty-seventh Special Session on Children in 2002 which culminated in the international agreement on protecting and promoting children's rights, through land mark document “A World Fit for Children”. The agreement was again a practical demonstration of world’s continuous commitment to the cause of children
6. Pakistan as one of the six initiator country, with foresight and conviction not only voiced the first “call for children” but also listed its name among one of the first countries to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The new democratic government is again back on track to follow the path of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed that was adopted by her first government in 1990 at the occasion of World Summit for Children.
7. Pakistan lays great emphasis on fulfilling its international commitments on all human rights including the rights of children. At forefront on this cause Pakistan is a State Party to the Convention on Rights of the Child and the "SAARC Convention on Prevention and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution". The new government has adopted following revolutionary measures:

   One: A National Commission for Child Welfare and Development with its subsidiary institutions all over the country has been set up. The Commission is involved in Children Protection, Monitoring and Data collection System in collaboration with UNICEF.

   Two: Corporal punishment in schools has been banned. In addition to Juvenile Justice Administration System, A National Child Policy and Plan of Action to Combat Child Abuse and Sexual Exploitation is also being finalized. The Plan of Action will have a special focus on the girl child.

   Three: Trafficking of children has been banned through Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking Ordinance 2002. Efforts are being made for repatriation and rehabilitation of the children smuggled abroad for commercial purposes.

   Four: To promote literacy, equal emphasis on the girl child is put by the literacy drive. The National Plan of action on Education for All aims to achieve universal enrolment of primary level by 2015.

8. Above all is the comprehensive Child Protection Bill which is under parliamentary consideration. The Child Protection Bill and draft Policy would make legal provisions for child minimum age of marriage, sexual abuse, trafficking of children and child labour including a comprehensive approach on all matter pertaining to rights of children.
9. I would also like to highlight the commendable role of Pakistani media and civil society which they are playing in raising awareness about the rights of children, protection issues, and development of strategies to improve existing legal and administrative structures.

Chairperson,

10. In conclusion I would like to emphasize that funding gaps in present policies require attention by Governments and the international community. In common pursuit of international community to achieve MDG targets by the period 2010-2015, the most crucial question will be whether in a world of unprecedented prosperity, enough resources and commitment have been invested to fulfill the rights of children across the world. Indeed, the quality and prosperity of societies tomorrow will depend on how well the rights of today's children are fulfilled.

I thank you Chairperson