Message from Dr. Arif Alvi President Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the occasion of Universal Children’s Day (20th November, 2018)

Universal Children’s Day is a day celebrated throughout the world to create awareness on the rights of the Children. As signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Pakistan has always been in the forefront of regional and international initiatives aimed at protecting the rights of the child.

It is our obligation to protect our children and provide them access to development opportunities without any discrimination of status, caste, creed or religion.

The Government of Pakistan is committed to protect its children from all types of exploitation, exclusion and marginalization. At the same time it is endeavoring to provide them equal opportunities and an enabling environment to excel in every sphere of life.

We reiterate our pledge towards promotion and protection of children’s rights in the country. The Government is carrying forward an agenda for substantial reforms which will have a salutary impact on the lives of children in future. This includes an action plan on child abuse, actualization of the Juvenile Justice Act, and the set up of the National Commission on the rights of the Child. While the Government is fully alive to its responsibilities, there is however, a need for all the stakeholders to work in the same direction. The task of child welfare requires partnerships of all public and private agencies.

I call upon the media, corporate sector, community, parents and children themselves to come together and play their constructive role in the national effort to improve the lives of children in Pakistan.