ISLAMABAD: Child Protection Advisory Board has decided to constitute a penal to review technical aspects of newly developed Zainab Alert Application.
The second meeting of the Child Protection Advisory Board was held on Friday with Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shireen Mazari in chair. The huddle reviewed progress on various issues related to protection of children.
Cdr. (Retd.) Liaquat Ali, Project Director of the Zainab Alert Application gave presentation on the application and its integration with the 1099 Helpline of Ministry of Human Rights. The board decided to constitute a sub-committee to review the technical and financial feasibility of the application.
Bappi, offered one-time financial support of Rs. 60, 000 to complainants
Managing Director of Bait-ul-Mal, Aon Abbas Bappi, offered one-time financial support of Rs. 60, 000 to complainants, and taking care of educational expenditures of the victim children.
He proposed that the complainants could also be referred to the Ehsaas programme for monthly support. Aon participated in the meeting on the directives of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, briefed the board about importance of effective implementation of child protection laws to eradicate child abuse.
Helpline 1099 raising awareness about laws and protection mechanisms at grass root level
Federal Secretary Ministry of Human Rights, Rabiya Javeri Agha, briefed the board about the operationalization of the National Commission for Child Rights (NCRC). She highlighted impact of the Human Rights Helpline 1099. It has raised awareness about laws and protection mechanisms at the grass root level, she added.
She explained the role of the Ministry of Human Rights in preparing legislation to criminalize corporal punishment and put an end to the culture of violence against children.
Director General International Cooperation Muhammad Hassan Mangi, briefed the meeting about the sub-committee constituted under Ambreen Ahmad to facilitate setting up Child Protection Institute and to assist Ministry of Human Rights in preparation of guidelines/SOPs for Institute.
Mangi said the recommendations regarding 40 posts for the Child Protection Institute are under consideration with the Finance Division and budget for the institute has also been allocated. Once the posts are approved, a supplementary grant will be taken from the Finance Division, he added.
Child Protection Desk set up at Polyclinic hospital, whereas a desk is being established at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences
The meeting was told that a Child Protection Desk has been set up at Polyclinic hospital, whereas a desk is being established at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.
Ministry of Human Rights representatives informed the board about various child abuse awareness campaigns and initiatives, including a school engagement programme against children abuse. The programme was launched in various public and private schools in Islamabad Capital Territory.
The representatives of the ministry also briefed the board about progress being made in strengthening legislation and its implementation. The rules of the Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Act, 2020 have been shared with Federal and Provincial counterparts for obtaining their views, they said.
They said the post of the Director General of Zainab Alert is being created and rules of Islamabad Capital Territory Child Protection Act, 2020 have also been drafted.
Also Read: Senate passes Zainab Alert, Recovery and Response Bill, 2020
