Cooperation for Child Rights in the Asia Pacific Region 4-6 November 2010, Beijing

Reforming Child Protection and Welfare Systems in PakistanPresentation by:

Her Excellency Mrs. Samina Khalid Ghurki

Minister for Social Welfare & Special Education GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN

Say Yes to Child Rights Movement in Pakistan (2002-04)

Declaration of the Year 2004 as the Year of Child Welfare and Rights

Juvenile Justice System Ordinance (JJSO 2000)

Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking Ordinance (2002)

Child Labour Laws

National Plan of Action for Children

Achievements1

Regional Consultation on Violence against Children (2005)

South Asia forum for ending Violence Against Children (SAF) 2006

South Asia Initiative for ending Violence against children and women (SAIEVAC) 2010

Minimum Care standard for child care institutions

National Strategy and Plan for Action for vulnerable children and women in Earthquake Affected area

Cabinet Committee overseeing the issue of child camel Jockeys (Repatriation and Rehabilitation of 900 camel Jockeys children

Achievements2

Punjab Destitute and Neglected Children Act, 2004

Child Ombudsman Federal and Provincial Levels.

Reformation of laws through consultations

National Core Group on Child abuse

National/provincial governing bodies for Child Protection and Welfare

Children parliament and Forums

Help Lines (Public & Private sectors)

Achievements3

How progress achieved By undertaking effective legislative, policy, administrative and programmatic interventions including capacity building and sensitization.

4

ChallengesCurrent systems are yet to made fully compliant with CRC and in the best interest of the child

Lacks coherence and functional coordination

Partially responsive to actual childs rights to protection and welfare

Current system yet to made effective and more efficient

5

Challenges

Legislative frameworks in process of reformation need urgent completion

The institutional and administrative structures (governance) have limited powers and authority to implement the required reforming public policies, strategies, programmes.

The actual capacities and capabilities of the child protection and welfare professionals are insufficiently developed.

6

ChallengesPolitical will and leadership

Actors: policy makers, decision makers, professionals, families, communities, CSOs & Children (Alliance building and Capacity)

Resources: human and financial/Budget and budgeting processes

Partnership Regional & International

Research and data analysis Child Protection & Management Information System for evidence based policies and advocacy

Management of the resources: Roles, monitoring and information systems, referrals and coordination mechanisms

7

Challenges

Review domestic legislation for its compatibility with current challenges.

Implementation of the LEGAL AND POLICY PROVISIONS

Compatibility of different legal provisions (codes, jurisprudence)

Security situation and natural calamities (Earthquake, flood, Sunami)8

Partnership South-SouthSharing and replication of best practices

Enhancing future collaboration

Promotion of regional efforts to address the issue of child and women trafficking

Adopting Conventions for Child Protection Welfare and Rights.

Learning & using the experience of already existing mechanisms in the Region. (SAARC mechanism & Conventions on Children, South Asia Initiative for Ending Violence Against Children SAIEVAC)

9

Partnership South-SouthSharing of best practices, lessons learned and experiences.

Foster stronger and expanded cooperation

10

ConclusionReforming Child Protection and Welfare Systems takes time (an average of 10 yrs)

Pakistan has been initiating the reforms recently (in a systematic way since 2000)

Making the systems work is a prerequisite to make justice to children, particularly to those who are now excluded, living in poverty, marginalized and powerless.

The HLM is an indubitable proof that the wellbeing of children is on the public agenda of the governments of the countries in Asia11

***Coherence between different governmental levels: federal, provincial, district authorities as well as cross sectoralIt is not inclusive as it does not address the main determinants of the child social exclusion

It requires drastic increase of its functionality and capacity to manage resources and impact on child wellbeing as well as his or her development potentialities*INVESTING IN CHILDREN means investing in HUMAN DEVELOPMENT which means investing in the DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY AND ENSURE ITS DESIRABLE FUTURE, CRC Ratification (Pakistan one of the first countries who have signed and ratified CRC on 12 Nov. Pakistan CRC20)

7. South South Cooperation is a priority on the agenda of the Government. The study tour to the Republic of the Philippines in 2009 by the Honorable Minister and Pakistani Delegation*INVESTING IN CHILDREN means investing in HUMAN DEVELOPMENT which means investing in the DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY AND ENSURE ITS DESIRABLE FUTURE, CRC Ratification (Pakistan one of the first countries who have signed and ratified CRC on 12 Nov. Pakistan CRC20)

7. South South Cooperation is a priority on the agenda of the Government. The study tour to the Republic of the Philippines in 2009 by the Honorable Minister and Pakistani Delegation*