PESHAWAR, Sep 30 (APP):A coordination meeting was held under the 'Inclusive Protection for Vulnerable Children' (IPVC) project, organized by Helvetas Pakistan to review child protection measures, impact of recent training programs and the coordination between various institutions. The meeting was attended by frontline workers from various sectors, including representatives of the Child Protection Commission, law enforcement agencies, journalists, educationists, legal experts, and social workers. Participants noted that the training programs …
Coordination meeting review progress on `Inclusive Protection for Vulnerable Children’ initiative
PESHAWAR, Sep 30 (APP):A coordination meeting was held under the ‘Inclusive Protection for Vulnerable Children’ (IPVC) project, organized by Helvetas Pakistan to review child protection measures, impact of recent training programs and the coordination between various institutions.
The meeting was attended by frontline workers from various sectors, including representatives of the Child Protection Commission, law enforcement agencies, journalists, educationists, legal experts, and social workers.
Participants noted that the training programs have led to tangible improvements in child protection efforts.
These include an increase in the re-enrollment of out-of-school children, heightened awareness regarding children’s rights, and initiatives to reduce child labor through education and vocational training.
It was reported that there have been improvements in the attitudes and procedures of police personnel when handling sensitive cases involving children, while prison authorities are taking steps to keep juvenile prisoners separate from adult inmates and are working towards their rehabilitation.
Social welfare organizations are also actively working to rescue children involved in begging and to provide them with shelter, education, and other basic amenities.
Legal experts emphasized the need for effective coordination among relevant institutions to ensure the confidentiality of children’s identities in sensitive cases, protect their rights and provide them with psychosocial support.
However, the participants identified the high rate of child labor and the rising trend of drug abuse among the youth as significant challenges to child protection, emphasizing the need for further training of law enforcement agencies and increased economic support for vulnerable families.
At the conclusion of the meeting, a commitment was expressed to make cooperation and coordination among various child protection agencies more effective.
Helvetas Pakistan reiterated its commitment to strengthening integrated efforts aimed at providing a safe and conducive environment for children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Peshawar.
