WISE organized a seminar “Girls’ Vision for Future”, in connection with International Day of Girls Child. A large number of community women, domestic workers, govt. representatives, academics, students, young girls and civil society activists joined the event.
The speakers were; Ms Bushra Khaliq, Executive Director WISE, Sidra Humayun, Programme Coordinator, UN Women, Nabila Bhatti, member Working Group at National Commission on the Rights of Child, Imran Mehboob Khan, representative of Punjab Police Integrated Command Control & Communication Center, Punjab Safe City Authority, Nazir Ahmad Gazi, Coordinator Child Rights Movement (CRM), Ms Humaira, Child Protection Officer, Child Protection & Welfare Bureau and Dr Noor ul Zaman, Director, Phoenix Foundation.
The speakers highlighted stark challenges, being faced by girl children in their education, health, nutrition and well-being. Quoting UNICEF figures, they told that the number of out-of-school children in country range from 20.3 to 22.1 million, out of which 12 million are girls. Pakistan is home to nearly 19 million child brides and ranks 6th globally in early child marriages. In addition, more than half of adolescent girls, or 54% become pregnant before their 18th birthday which can be life-threatening for the mother and the child. Almost 55% of adolescent girls are anemic.
The speakers urged the need for high level of attention to address the challenges Pakistani girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights. They demanded of the govt. to invest in girls’ leadership, to unlock their full potential and pave the way for their brighter future.
Bushra Khaliq, Executive Director WISE said girls are often subject to societal pressure to conform to certain ideals of beauty, behavior, and domesticity. These ideals may promote passivity and discourage girls from asserting their independence or pursuing ambitious careers. In many parts of Pakistan, girls face restrictions on their mobility. They may be discouraged or outright forbidden from participating in outdoor activities, sports, or social gatherings that are seen as inappropriate for women. This limits their opportunities for personal growth and social development. She said if effectively supported, girls have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, political leaders, and mothers.
Sidra Humayun, Program Coordinator – UN Women said many girls are subjected to physical, emotional, or sexual abuse in the home, often by family members or relatives. Cultural norms often prevent girls from speaking out against such abuse due to the stigma it carries. She talked about safeguarding strategies to address Gender-Based Violence against girls and women. Highlighting the importance of young women leadership, she emphasised the need for investment in realising the power of girls upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, in which young women are equal partner.
Nabila Bhatti, Member Working Group at National Commission on the Rights of Child shedding light on issue of Child Marriage said, despite legal prohibitions, child marriage is still common, especially in rural areas. Quoting UNICEF figures, she said Pakistan is home to nearly 19 million child brides and ranks 6th globally in early child marriages, she added. Around 21% of girls in Pakistan are married before the age of 18, she observed. She demanded of the govt to comply with international conventions and create awareness at community level against early girl marriages.
Imran Mehboob Khan, representative of Punjab Police Integrated Command Control & Communication Center, Punjab Safe City Authority, stressed the need for public awareness regarding child protection. He told the audience that PSCA has established virtual child care center in its office linked throughout the Punjab, which addresses a range of issues of child abuse including the cases of child missing, run away children, molested or abducted children. Sharing figures, he told that Safe City Authority has received 30,000 complaints regarding children. Out of which majority of complaints were resolved successfully.
Nazir Ahmad Gazi, Coordinator Child Rights Movement (CRM) stressed the need of girl empowerment through education. He told that 26% of girls and 19% of boys had never been to school. Girls face harassment on the way to school. They face challenges to their security in public spaces, transportation, and near schools. Given this, parents either delay girls’ education or prevent them from attending school altogether. The second most important reason parents give for not sending girls to school is the distance to schools, which is a factor that exacerbates parents’ security concerns, he opined.
Ms. Humaira, Child Protection Officer, Child Protection & Welfare Bureau, discussing safety mechanisms for effective child protections, told that her department is making efforts to rescue and protect the children from criminals. CP&WB not only provides food and shelter but also imparts education and skills to these children to make them useful citizens, she added. We make endeavors for reunification of destitute children with their families. Besides this, the child psychologists take various measures for mental development and rehabilitation for these children. A child helpline 1121 has also been set up which provides guidance, help and coordination for rescue and protective custody of children, she added.
Dr. Noor ul Zaman, Director, Phoenix Foundation Foundation said teenage drug addiction is a genuine issue of rapidly increasing among youth, particularly among students including girls of academic institutions terming it as a serious social problem confronting the Pakistani society. He said parents should build strong and friendly bonding with their siblings to help them in their stressful situations, which is one of the common reasons for drug use initiation. Safe academic institutions environment and strong family system together can help in uplifting this menace from our society, he added.