The complexity and
interconnectedness of today’s globalised world have rendered development
challenges increasingly interlinked and global in nature. Prosperity cannot be
sustained without finding integrated and common solutions and without all
countries contributing in a spirit of solidarity and shared responsibility. The
post-2015 agenda has framed sustainable development as a universal project. On
the one hand, it includes issues that are of common concern to all and pose
challenges at the national level; on the other hand, it defines objectives to be
achieved at the global level.
Universality cannot be separated from the contrastive principle of
differentiation, as responsibilities and accountability will have to differ
depending on the circumstances of each country, their respective development
statuses and the means available to them.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have galvanized unprecedented resources
and attention and provided a shared agenda for development. They are generally
associated with substantial progress for many children and families around the
world. However, progress towards the MDGs has been highly inequitable, with
millions of the poorest and most vulnerable children missing out. The MDGs have
also been used and interpreted in a manner that has led to a reduction of the
development agenda to a narrow set of goals which miss out key dimensions of
development.
This coming September, world leaders are set to pass a new global development
agenda that will replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This agenda
will drive action and investment in every country over the next 15 years. For
this to happen, children must be at the heart of the new agenda and have voice
in defining and implementing it.
Children in Pakistan to be at risk of suffering from malnutrition, poor access
to education, exploitation including worst forms of child labor, internal &
external trafficking. Girl children are particularly vulnerable as they suffer
human rights violations at the hands of the state and in the community,
including honor killings, rape and domestic violence.
In Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and KPK child protection laws such as the Punjab
Destitute and Neglected Children Act 2004 and its amendment Act 2007, the Sindh
Child Protection Authority Bill 2009, the Balochistan Child Protection Bill 2014
and the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Child Protection and Welfare Act 2010 have been
adapted. However, these laws are not enough to ensure child rights and child
protection throughout the country.
At the national and provincial levels to respond to this situation by
implementing strategies and increasing budgetary allocations we seen governments
are not serious. And it is high time for provincial as well as national
governments to fulfill their committement’s to children’s rights as this is now
the responsibility of provinces after 18th constitutional amendment to provide
right to health, education and protection beyond 2015 development agenda in well
mannered child safeguarding and protection systems and policies.