The
year 2019 is a special year for children of the world. It is the 30th
anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC),
the most rapidly and widely ratified international human rights treaty in
history.
When
countries- or states - sign a convention or make a treaty, they are making
promises to each other. These promises create rights and obligations which are
legally and politically binding.
By
signing the CRC, world leaders agreed that children needed a special convention
just for them because they often need care and protection that adults do not.
They made a promise to children to protect and promote their rights to survive
and thrive, to learn and grow, to make their voices heard and to reach their
full potential. It was agreed that childhood, which goes up to 18 years, is a
special, protected time, in which children must be allowed to grow, learn,
play, develop and flourish with dignity.
Only
a year after the signing of the CRC, Pakistan ratified the treaty making a
strong commitment towards ensuring the fundamental rights of the child in the
country. Ever since, noteworthy results, for children have been achieved in the
country, however, a lot more needs to be done.
In
his message for the 30th anniversary of the CRC, President of the Islamic Republic
of Pakistan, H.E Dr. Arif Alvi said, "Pakistan is fully committed to combating
all challenges that confront our children. We are dedicated to ensuring that no
infant life is lost because of lack of basic health facilities; no school going
child is deprived of education merely because of lack of schools; and no child
is bounded to labour because of poverty, deprivation, and lack of opportunity.
We will ensure that deteriorating environment does not affect our children. We
will eradicate crime and terrorism from our society so that no child is ever
prevented from leading a fulfilling life. It is, in short, our priority to
transform each child into a productive and responsible member of our
nation":
Over
the past years, Pakistan has made steady progress for children, and the
government of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf has committed to rise up to the
challenges. The Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is committed to help children
and young people survive, enter school, and develop the skills they need for
employment said, "No country can prosper when there is a small island of
rich people, and a sea of poor".
The
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is the UN organization mandated to
protect the rights of every child, everywhere, especially the most
disadvantaged, and is the only organization specifically named in the Convention
on the Rights of the Child as a source of expert assistance and advice. As the
flagbearer for the rights of the child, UNICEF continues to demand from the
world leaders that they fulfill their commitments made in the CRC and take
action to ensure that every child, has every right.
By
promoting the ratification and supporting the implementation of the Convention
and its Optional Protocols, UNICEF helps strengthen laws and policies and
improves understanding of the Convention at all levels of society, including:
a.
Supporting
governments to implement the Convention through laws and policies, including
providing institutional and professional capacity development.
b. Participating in different
stages of the monitoring process. For example, UNICEF country offices assist
governments in organizing major consultations prior to drafting their reports.
c. Supporting the Committee
on the Rights of the Child. For example, by participating in the Committee's
review of submitted reports.
d. Working with governments
to identify implementation strategies in response to the Committee's
recommendations.
e.
Helping
to ensure that voices that too often go unheard are reflected in the
information presented to the Committee. For example, by facilitating
wide-reaching consultations at all levels of society, submitting written
reports on the situation of women and children, and encouraging non-governmental
organizations to submit their own reports to the Committee as a supplement to
government reports.
UNICEF
will continue to support the government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for
children, work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and help
children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child
(CRC). This will be made through strong partnerships with provincial
authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social
mobilizers, communities and families, and of course children and adolescents
themselves.
On
30th Years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), a Commemorative
Postage Stamp of Rs.20/- denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on
November 04, 2019.
