Islamabad
The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child organized an in-house event to commemorate the International Human Rights Day. The event aimed to acknowledge the rights of children of the marginalized groups of the society.
The event took place in Meher Abadi situated in the slum areas of Islamabad under the theme “EQUALITY-Reducing inequalities, advancing Human Rights”
SPARC is running three street children centers in a slum area (Meherabadi) of Islamabad on its own. Children are provided non-formal education, life skill sessions including health and hygiene practice.
SPARC also conducts sensitizing sessions with the parents of these children on the importance of positive parenting. Women are provided skill uplift trainings to help them boost their family income.
In her introductory remarks, SPARC’s Board member Ms. Nargis Zaid said that child rights are human right and all children are equally entitled for these rights. Participants were briefed about the importance of the day and the rights they are entitled to.
Children delivered speeches and performed on the song inspiring children join school. Women also presented a short script highlighting the adverse impacts of child marriage. A walk was also arranged to raise awareness about the day in the community in which all the segment of the community participated.
Ending the commemoration, SPARC’s Executive Director Ms Asiya Arif stressed on collective efforts of civil society and the government to improve Human Rights situation in the country as Pakistan is placed at 154 out of 189 countries in overall ranking of Human Development Index (HDI).
