President calls for collective efforts to protect rights of children

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has called for collective efforts to implement National Plan of Action for Children to protect their rights.

In a message on Universal Children's Day falling on Tuesday (Nov 20), the President said: "Let us on this day review implementation of the National Plan of Action for Children and pledge to fully implement the same."

"It is a matter of satisfaction that Pakistan has been in the forefront of international efforts to advocate child rights agenda."

He said Pakistan today joins the International community in celebrating the Universal Children's Day.

He said Pakistan was one of the six-initiator countries of the World Summit for Children 1990.

"We are a party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Pakistan has also played a key role at regional and international levels to protect the Rights of the Child."

One of the basic rights of the children is the right to education, the President said adding it is reassuring that during the month of Universal Children Day celebrations the Parliament passed a law providing for free compulsory primary education to children.

He said during this month the Government also launched a massive program of providing free education to the children of the poorest of the poor under the auspices of Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).

"These are most commendable initiatives and let us pledge today that these will be pursued with vigor and drive. The Children's Day reminds us of our obligation to the children as ordained by our religion and also in the Constitution."

He said the task of child protection requires partnership between public and private agencies.

"In advancing the child rights agenda it is important that we all must join hands to ensure that our children are safe from allsorts of violence and exploitation," the President reminded.

"On the eve of the Universal Children's Day, I also wish to compliment the UN agencies, the NGOs and volunteers for highlighting the child related issues and supplementing official efforts to create conducive environment for the children."

The President paid tribute to Malala, Kainaat and Shazia and all those who have suffered and sacrificed for the rights of the girl child to education and progress and the international community for pledging support to Pakistan. (APP)