Child Commission notifies Rise & Shine Girls’ Education Leadership Network as Consultative Body

PESHAWAR, Oct 09 (APP):Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection and Welfare Commission has formally notified ‘Rise & Shine Girls’ Education Leadership Network of Blue Veins, established with the support of Malala Fund, as pro-bono consultative network with the Commission.

The formal notification and recognition of the network provide a structured provincial platform for young girls, to participate in policy discussions and processes, consultations regarding girls’ education, protection and safety, health, and other matters concerning their rights and well-being.

The notification was presented during the Commemoration of International Day of the Girl, held under the theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls Rights”, alongside the launch of a province-wide awareness and sensitisation campaign against child sexual abuse and exploitation, organised by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection & Welfare Commission with the support of its development partner UNICEF and local civil society partner Blue Veins.

The event brought together representatives from government line departments, academia, civil society organisations, religious scholars, media and adolescent girls.

It featured messages from young girls members of the network on safe childhood, preventing and responding to child sexual abuse, girls education, child marriage, and the importance of girls leadership for societal progress.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Social Welfare, Special Education and Women Empowerment Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr. Sharif Hussain, said, “Children must not only be beneficiaries of child protection and welfare policies and programmes; they must have a meaningful engagement in the policy conversations.” Sustainable child protection efforts require collaboration among government, civil society, parents, children and communities. By listening to and working together with girls and supporting their participation, we can better understand the issues they face and act and respond more effectively.

Applauding the KP Child Protection and Welfare Commission, Qamar Naseem, Malala Fund Education Champion and Program Manager, Blue Veins, said, “Granting consultative status to the Network reflects the provincial government commitment to creating a bridge between adolescent girls, institutions and decision-makers, and gives girls a meaningful opportunity to contribute to conversations that affect their future and well-being.

Maham, Lintha, Fatiha, Abeera, members of the Rise & Shine Girls’ Education Leadership Network mentioned, “Girls have experiences, ideas and solutions, but we need spaces where our voices are heard. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection and Welfare Commission for giving us the space to contribute to the policy dialogue and processes.”