HYDERABAD: Pakistan will observe the World Day against Child Labour on June 12 along with rest of the world and reaffirm its commitment to combat the menace and help develop an atmosphere congenial for all children.
Several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) along with relevant departments at federal and provincial levels are attempting to come up with a comprehensive approach to protect children against possible exploitation and pressures denying them of their rights of education, health and quality life. The International Labor Organization (ILO) launched the first World Day in 2002 as a way to highlight the plight of working children and to serve as a catalyst for the growing worldwide movement against child labour.
Society of Protection of Rights of Child (SPARC) National Manager Kashif Bajeer informed APP here on Wednesday that the country’s constitution guaranteed equal rights for education and health to all children irrespective of their caste, creed and origin. He said that child labour was destroying the future of nation as it kept a large number of the coming generations illiterate and ignorant of their rights. He pointed out that Pakistan had ratified the ILO Convention which bounds it to take actions for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour. He also said that despite all legislation child labour was growing in many parts of the country.
Kashif referred to the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, mentioning that the convention urged the governments to protect children from work that threatens their health, education or development.
