CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM ASIA– Focus Pakistan

1. CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM ASIA– Focus Pakistan Dr. Tufail Muhammad Pakistan Pediatric Association

2. Objectives • Define child protection and child protection system • Enumerate Components of child protection system and describe traits of a good system • Know current scenario of Child protection system in South Asia and Pakistan

3. What is child protection? Child Protection is a concept that aims to protect children from all forms of abuse, violence , effects of war and conflict, neglect and abandonment, discrimination and exploitation. It also includes the provision of comprehensive care and/or rehabilitation when necessary, particularly to victims of child abuse and neglect.

4. ASIA- An Introduction • The world largest and most populous continent • Covers 8.6 % of the world total surface area and 29.9 % of its land area • Hosts 60 % of the world total population (almost 4 Billion) • Divided into Regions - East Asia, Central Asia, South Eastern Asia, South Asia, Western Asia and North Asia (parts of Russia)

5. ASIA

6. Child Protection Child protection is integrally linked to every other right of the child. The failure to ensure children’s right to protection adversely affects all other rights of the child. “Child protection is about protecting every right of every child”

7. Child Protection and CRCArticle 19.1 State parties shall take all appropriate measures to protect child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian (s) or any other person who has the care of the child.

8. Child Protection and CRC Article 34 -----to protect the child from all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse’--- Article 39 -----‚to promote physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of a child victim’ …

9. Assessment of Child Protection in South Asia –Save the Children Study - 2010 • Afghanistan • Bangladesh • Bhutan • India • Maldives • Nepal • Pakistan • Sri Lanka

10. Child Abuse and NeglectPrevalent Forms in South Asia • Child Labor • Sexual Abuse & Exploitation • Physical Abuse • Corporal punishment • Child Trafficking • Child Domestic Abuse • Street Children • Harmful traditional practices • Discrimination against Girl Child

11. Components of CP System • Prevention and • Response to Child neglect, abuse , violence and Exploitation

12. CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEMLegal and Normative Framework • LAWS • POLICIES • REGULATIONS • STANDARDS OF CARE

13. CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEMInstitutions and Structures • Government • Non Governmental Organizations • Private Sector

14. CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEMProcesses – Roles and Responsibilities • Management • Budgets • Monitoring and Information System • Referral system and Networks • Coordination mechanisms

15. CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEMResources and Capabilities • Human Resources • Financial resources • Competencies (minimal professional and para-professional) • Funds for regulatory, supportive and service functions

16. CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEMOther factors • Externalities (factors outside the child protection system) • Research and data analysis (functions to inform evidence based policy development and advocacy)

17. Approach to CP System • A high level of political commitment to child protection • Strengthening the capacity of state institutions to fulfil children’s right to protection; • Promoting the establishment and enforcement of adequate legislation; • Raising awareness against harmful attitudes, customs and practices;

18. Approach to CP System---contd • Developing children’s life skills, knowledge and participation; • Building capacity of families and communities; • Birth Registration • Providing essential services for prevention, recovery and reintegration, • Establishing and implementing ongoing and effective monitoring, reporting and oversight of child rights’ violations at all levels.

19. Traits of a good CP System--1 • Based on preventive approach towards protection • Based on laws that are CRC based , comprehensive and well implemented • Procedures for detection, intervention, and monitoring are well-structured yet flexible when necessary • Different parts of protection work are carried out through well-defined and • coordinated roles undertaken by multiple agencies and actors --contd--

20. Traits of a good CP System--2 • The system helps create positive societal perceptions and behaviors that reaffirm children’s rights through awareness raising efforts on multiple levels • The services provided are easily accessible on a highly localized level • based on positive partnership between the state and the family in responsibilities pertaining to child rearing • Providing basic and targeted services to families and communities are a central component of child protection work. • Child protection and welfare systems are well-integrated.

21. Root causes of Violence gainst children in South Asia • Poverty • Gender inequality • Discrimination and social exclusion • Emergency situations • Children without appropriate care

22. Assessment of Child Protection in South Asia - Issues • No structured National Child protection Systems • Governments have yet to take responsibility for lead coordinating roles • The Legal reform processes are slow and complicated • Lack of funding and shortage of trained professionals • On average South Asian Governments spend less than 1 % of GDP on social protection. Only a very small fraction is allocated to child protection • Most of the South Asian Governments are heavily dependent on donor support for child protection program and delivery of services

23. Current situation of CP System in Pakistan • No structured Child Protection System • Minimal resources, legislation or procedures for child protection • Lack of conceptual clarity regarding CP system

24. PAKISTAN – A Profile • Independence from Britain: 14th August 1947 • Total Area: 796,095 Sq. Km (0.6 % of World) • Total Population 173.5 Million • (2.36 % of World) • Urban/Rural % 33.4/66.6 • Male/Female Ratio 52/48 • Population density 187 persons/Sq • Annual population growth rate 2.05 % • Infant Mortality Rate 75/1000 • Under 5 Mortality Rate 94/1000

25. CP System PakistanFoundations • UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; • Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography; • Worst Form of Child Labor Convention (ILO Convention No 182); • United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Administration of Juvenile Justice • Millennium Development Goals

26. CP System PakistanFoundations • National Plan of Action for Children • National Plan of Action against Child Sexual abuse and Exploitation • Pakistan’s Child Protection Policy (draft) • Child Protection Bill (draft) • Children’s Complaint Office (Ombudsman’ Secretariat)

27. Institutional Framework forCP in Pakistan • National Commission for Child Welfare and Development • Provincial Child Protection Bureaus • District Child Protection Units

28. Child Protection Act – Special Areas of Focus • Abolition of Corporal punishment • Abolition of harmful child labor practices • Abolition of harmful traditional practices • Protection against substance abuse • Restraint on child marriages • Child friendly legal system

29. Levels of Child Protection System • Home, street and neighborhood • Schools and other educational institutions • Hospitals and other health care settings • Police department and judicial system. • Shelters and Drop in Centres • Workplaces • Emergency and disaster situations

30. Hospital Child protection Committees (HCPC)-Aim To promote the health and well being of children in distress at formal health care centers through the optimal management of abused children by using a multi-disciplinary approach and to make the clinical settings child-friendly

31. HCPC - Objectives • Build capacity of professionals on early detection, management and rehabilitation of CAN cases • Document cases of CAN in order to build a strong evidence based data • Create a model for management of CAN in formal health care system • Make the hospital settings more child friendly to all children

32. Working Together • A structured system of CP System needs to be developed for Pakistan • The System should address prevention, recognition and after care • The system should engage and work with families ,schools , health professionals, law enforcement agencies , social services , voluntary agencies , community leaders and religious organizations to help and keep families together and children safe

33. The stakes are high. It is not just the health and well-being of children as they grow up into adults but more than this, the future of the society which the children will construct out of their childhood experiences. (Hobbs, Hanks & Wynne, 1993)