FRCE Research on Problems of Pakistani Children reported through Media

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of FRCE.

FRCE Research

On

Problems of Pakistani Children

Reported through Media

Foundation for Research & Community Empowerment

B-26 Midland Bungalow near Sonhari book land

Near Naseem Nagar Qasimabad Hyderabad Sindh Pakistan

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FRCE Research on Problems of Pakistani Children reported through Media

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of FRCE.

Introduction

FRCE always believes children are the flowers of heaven. They are the most beautiful and purest

creation of God. They are innocent both inwardly and outwardly. No doubt, they are the beauty

of this world. But children in Pakistan face a variety of serious challenges ranging from

malnutrition and poor access to education and health facilities to exploitation in the form of child

labor. Their low status in society can leave them victim to daily violence at home and in school

as well as to organized trafficking and sexual exploitation, and many problems related with

children in the country were observed through media coverages since last year by FRCE

Researchers team in leading newspapers of the country.

Objectives of FRCE Research

1. Scrutinize children problems in Pakistan

2. Analyze in which fields child labour is deputed

3. Know how many children issues reported by media in the country

4. Identify how many forms of violence regarding children are highlighted in media

5. Listing of children problems which are coveraged by media in Pakistan

Methodology

The secondary data was reviewed in this study which was taken from different newspapers

(including English, Urdu & Sindhi) articles and Journals from January 2012 to November 2012

FRCE Research on Problems of Pakistani Children reported through Media

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of FRCE.

Results & Findings

Child labour

The socio-economic situation of the country is disastrous and forces families to make their

children work and children working in Pakistan in following fields as Child labour.

1. Agriculture

2. Homes

3. Carpet industry

4. Construction

5. Auto mobile industry

6. Textile industry

7. Bricks kilns

8. Hotels & restaurants

9. Shops & cigrate cabins

10. Bangles glass

11. Electrical & mechanical shops

12. Donkey carts

13. Tailoring & Barber

14. . Carpet waving

15. All scavenging including hospital waste

16. tobacco process ( including Niswar) and Manufacturing

17. fishing

18. Sheep casing, cattle grazing and wool industry

19. Ship breaking

20. Work at the sites where Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas

(CNG) are filled in cylinders

FRCE Research on Problems of Pakistani Children reported through Media

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of FRCE.

Street Children

Poverty, physical and mental abuse, negligence, and family problems are the major factors that

lead children to take refuge in the streets.

Sexual exploitation of children

Around 90% of the street children in Pakistan are subjected to the sex trade. Pakistan is also one

of the only countries in the world where boys are almost more vulnerable to sexual abuse than

girls.

Violence and Abuse

There is a troubling increase in the cases of abuse, kidnapping, and violence towards children in

Pakistan, following violence and abuse were found

1. Domestic violence,

2. Rape,

3. Pedophilia,

4. forced marriage

5. Corporal punishment that represents the most common form of abuse.

Child trafficking

The reports show that children are sold, rented, or even kidnapped in order to force them to beg,

serve, and even to prostitute.

Displaced & Refugee children

FRCE Research on Problems of Pakistani Children reported through Media

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In Pakistan, armed conflicts are not the only factor pushing families to flee. The country also

sees recurring natural disasters. Children who flee their homes need food, care, shelter, and

drinkable water. In these precarious living conditions, many displaced children suffer from

illnesses not only caused by poor hygiene, but also by anxiety, stress, and depression.

Children and tribal Conflicts, clashes

Pakistan is the theatre for numerous conflicts and confrontations (the tribal conflicts in northern

Sindh and Taliban conflicts in KPK). Victims of suicide attacks, explosions and anti-personnel

mines, and children pay heavy consequences with their health from these conflicts and clashes.

Furthermore, these children are also deprived of their right to education because many schools

are destroyed and some regions are subject to curfews

Child marriages

It was observed that through media that some parents believe it is better to marry off their

daughters as early as possible. Some marry their daughters with men as old as their fathers

because no match could be found in their tribes or caste. Their ‘traditions’ don’t allow them to

marry their daughters outside their caste or tribe.Despite the “Child Marriage Restraint Act”,

which forbids marriages of children these marriages still take place in Pakistan? This law

establishes the legal age of marriage as 18 years for men and 16 years for women, and failure to

respect it could lead to sanctions. In practice, this law is not respected at all, and there are still

many cases of forced marriage in particular tribal areas of the country.

In rural areas, in media a practice called “Vani Marriages” was observed which involves giving

your daughter in marriage to settle a dispute or a debt between two parties. “The aggressor”

offers one of his family’s daughters in compensation for a wrong caused. These marriages are

very dangerous for the Health of young girls who, as a result, run the risk of domestic violence,

servitude, and rapes.

FRCE Research on Problems of Pakistani Children reported through Media

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mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of FRCE.

Right to education

Observed that the majority of children attend primary school in Pakistan and the attendance rate

for Education is higher among boys than girls. The government only allocates just 2% of its

national budget to education, which is clearly insufficient considering the need. The difficulties

of public education are numerous: economic constraints, dilapidated or even dangerous schools

buildings, lack of toilets, chairs, tables, recurring humanitarian crises etc.

Furthermore, teachers are very under-qualified, and it is not uncommon for children to leave

school without knowing how to read or write.

Right to Identity

Births of the majority of children are not officially reported to the Pakistani public authorities,

making these children invisible in the eyes of society. The absence of regulations on births, and a

lack of information about the necessity to register them, is the biggest obstacles to the realization

of a complete birth registry. There is a great necessity to inform the general public about the

problems that this could cause, such as the absence of official identity, nationality, or even the

failure to respect the rights and practical needs of children.

Poverty

About 26% of the Pakistani population lives below the poverty line. This problem mainly affects

rural areas. The state of the global markets is exacerbating an already very difficult economic

reality. The first victims of poverty are children, the weakest and most vulnerable, who see a

complete deprivation of their rights, lack of education, health access and discrimination. And

poverty is the greatest single cause behind child labour.

FRCE Research on Problems of Pakistani Children reported through Media

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of FRCE.

Conclusion & Recommendations of FRCE

FRCE believes that as we know that, the children are the citizens of future. They play significant

role in the society. A society cannot be humane without good provisions for the children to live

like children Joyful and carefree. Their fundamental rights have been guaranteed by Constitution

Therefore, it shall be the duty of State to eliminate problems faced by children in the country.

Government of Pakistan and NGOs so involved in the act of elimination of children issues the

following interventions shall be required to be taken.

1. Policies

Composite policies should be developed to address the issue of children and resources should be

allocated proportionately. Awareness must be raised and the attention of parents ought to be

diverted to the education of their children through media and mobilization.

2. Reshaping educational system

The free education be given up to tertiary level and every parent should be bound to send their

children to school for the education Because School education plays vital role in elimination of

child labor. In one hand, school could be alternative place for children instead of being at

workplace. On the other hand, education brings awareness about human rights, child rights,

gender equality and moral values making all concerned sensitive towards the issue of child labor.

Besides, qualitative education helps children become more capable and productive adults making

child labor necessary for future despite educational system of the country must be reshaped and

restructured according to national development goals.

3. Creating economic opportunities:

There is need to provide appropriate support for the poor families to come out of the vicious

Circle of poverty-ignorance-child labor and more poverty. Such support should come in the

Form of initiatives that promote local self-sustainability, local resource mobilization, and value

FRCE Research on Problems of Pakistani Children reported through Media

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of FRCE.

Addition in "export of local products" to other areas, reforms in unproductive cultures and

Practices, etc.

4. The family and the child:

Family members and the home environment is also the most important for every child such as

parental love and care and the most important aspects to avoid child labor and exploitation of

children. Therefore, parents must be made part of the endeavor to eliminate child issues. They

should be central in the rehabilitation endeavors. In cases the family is non-existent or the child

has a very negative feeling towards parents, foster parenting can help fill the gap.

5. Media:

Media is considered to be the fourth organ of the state in democratic society. Media plays a vital

role in awareness raising, advocacy and sensitization by collection and dissemination of

information. Often times, it is media that reports about the incidence of child labor first, to be

followed up by other players, especially when the activity is illegal, e.g. Child trafficking for

labor and other exploitations. Media could also play a key role in reporting best practices and

success stories.

7. Information dissemination regarding the Convention of children rights

There is a need for disseminating information regarding the Convention, constitutional provisions

and other related legislation pertaining to the rights of children. Thus, the local government

institutions, social/cultural/educational/religious institutions, NGOs and mass media, etc. should be

associated in the task of mobilising support for the rights and welfare of the children.

8. Ban on hazardous occupations: Government should enforce a ban on hazardous occupations

under the Employment of Children Act 1991.

FRCE Research on Problems of Pakistani Children reported through Media

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of FRCE.

References

Newspapers which were used during research

Daily News www.jang.com.pk

News Time Pakistan www.newstimepakistan.com

Daily Times www.dailytimes.com.pk

Dawn www.dawn.com

The Financial Daily www.thefinancialdaily.com

The Nation www.nation.com.pk

National Herald Tribune www.dailynht.com

Jang

UMAT

Express

Kawish

Ibrat

Sham

Awami Awaz

Thanks

Appeal of FRCE

As you know that FRCE running following programs meanwhile without any funding, 1. FRCE Youth Career Counseling Program, 2. FRCE Free Educational Program, 3. FRCE Research Program 4. FRCE Free Health Program 5. FRCE Advocacy & Campaign Program 6. FRCE community capacity building Program 7. FRCE celebration with legend figures of the country

Therefore requested to you help FRCE through your donation so that FRCE may contribute in building Peaceful & Prosperous Pakistan. Account Detail: Account title: Foundation of Research and Community Empowerment (FRCE) Account no: 0105020104661211 Khushali Bank Ltd Defense Plaza Thandi Sarak Hyderabad Sindh Pakistan