Children living in poverty are exposed to threats of all kinds. The foremost are stunting, undernourishment, child labour and trafficking and abuse.
This brings forth the experience of exploitation, bullying, discrimination and denial to the right of basic education. A child born in a developing country is raised at a big disadvantage.
Pakistan, as a state is passing through a myriad of issues. To secure a stable and prosperous future of the country, it is high time to invest in a child of today irrespective of ethnic, geographical and faith affiliations.
Being the signatory to the UNCRC, Pakistan is responsible for taking steps to ensure that all national, provincial and local authorities allocate budgetary resources to the best interests of the children. However, the ground realities bring out the dismal state of affairs.
It is reported in the ‘End of Childhood Index rankings, 2018’ that Pakistan ranks 149 in a total of 175 countries. The low ranking is attributed to the discrimination vetted out to girls. Parents’ decisions are often influenced by wider social norms as well as economic resources at hand. Girls, at first, are made to be kept at home to support in household chores as ‘provision of education’ is not within reach.
Read:Pakistan among worst performers on Gender Equality: World Economic Forum
To end discrimination in social norms, governments must put in place systems and processes to register every child at birth so that access to education free of charges is provided under Article 23 of the Constitution.
The data collected through recent census should be segregated by age, economic group, sex, race, ethnicity, disability and migratory status of the children within the country. This is suggested to be the first step before the formulation and planning of allocating resources for children.
It will facilitate the relevant federal ministries and allied departments to plan out the next financial budget as per the needs of the children. It also requires that the Federal Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination should be assigned to be the focal point in bringing the all relevant federal and the provincial entities to work out on the modalities of coming up with a child-friendly budgeting modality.
It does not imply that a separate budget but a national budget that adequately addresses children’s issues and also prioritizes other vulnerable groups in the public expenditure system. It has been highlighted in a study commissioned by the Child Rights Movement in 2016 that there are 11 line departments who are provided with monetary resources under different heads for children.
In terms of budget initiatives, National Commission of Child Welfare and Protection can be given the leading role to consult and coordinate with the representatives of civil society working for children and the 11 line departments so that at the stages of allocation, consolidation, implementation and its monitoring of utilization could ensure that the interests of the children are taken care of.
Based upon my research and extensive experience with the development sector, in the diagram below, I have tried to suggest a consultation and coordination process among the concerned departments for the formulation and planning of next year budget-making process:
Also read:Over 16000 children to be born on New Year’s 1st day in Pakistan: UNICEF
