Islamabad—Child domestic labour should be immediately banned under the Employment of Children Act 1991. This was demanded by civil society organizations at a conference on ‘Contemporary Forms of Slavery: Child Domestic Labour in Pakistan’ organised by Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC).
Inaugurating the conference, Arshad Mahmood, Executive Director, SPARC said Child Domestic Labour is depriving a large number of children of their right education.
SPARC launched a 30-minute documentary ‘I Have A Dream’ produced by Ms. Samar Minallah, human rights activist. The documentary also highlighted the case of Shazia Masih, a 12-year-old child domestic worker who was tortured to death by her employer in January 2010 in addition to many other reported cases of torture on child domestic workers.
Ms. Samar Minhallah while sharing experiences of making the documentary said that the documentary is aimed at generating a dialogue and awareness on the issue to break the cycle of suppression. She regretted that child domestic labour is considered a norm and not a violation of children’s rights. She urged the media to come forward and dig out more facts of the lives of child domestic workers so that our government may wake up.
Mr. Zulfiqar Shah, Joint Director Piler said that child domestic workers are small children who face the hardships of life at such a fragile age.
Mr.Saif Ullah Chaudhry from ILO, highlighted the international laws and obligations regarding child domestic labour including cultural context, root causes, hazards, and ILO conventions. He said that ILO Convention 138 on minimum age of child labour and Convention 182 on worst forms of child labour, Convention 29 and 105 on forced labour have been ratified by Pakistan but the issue remains unsolved at the ground-level. He insisted to promote education and skills to eliminate child labour.
Ms. Quatrina Hossain, journalist called for elimination of child domestic labour. She admitted that the media has failed to play its role for the cause and vowed to raise this issue on her programme regularly.
Ms. Baela Raza Jamil, Director Idara-e-Taleem-o-Agahi stressed the need for legislation to eliminate child domestic labour. She highlighted the myths and realities associated with child domestic labour.
Ms. Farah Naz Ispahanai MNA in her keynote address said terrorism has affected the economy as well as increased the number of orphan children forcing them into child labour. She lamented the adverse working conditions for the girl child workers and urged the government to make efforts to change the mindsets of the people who were unkind to wards children.
SPARC had also invited the father of Tehmina, child domestic worker who died after serious spine injuries resulting from inhuman torture by her employers, and also the father of two missing maids Razia aged 8 and Sadiqa aged 16 years, who requested people not to send their children to work at any cost.
Ms. Zakia Shahnawaz, Advisor to CM Punjab assured her full support to the father of the missing maids.
Ms Gulnara Shahinian, the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, in her message for the conference said that child domestic labour is form of modern slavery. She urged the government of Pakistan to comply with the international commitments regarding protection of child rights.
Ms. Amina Sarwar shared the findings of the research on Child Domestic Labour in Pakistan conducted by SPARC and said that the study sheds light on the life and working conditions of child domestic workers.
Inaugurating the conference, Arshad Mahmood, Executive Director, SPARC said Child Domestic Labour is depriving a large number of children of their right education.
SPARC launched a 30-minute documentary ‘I Have A Dream’ produced by Ms. Samar Minallah, human rights activist. The documentary also highlighted the case of Shazia Masih, a 12-year-old child domestic worker who was tortured to death by her employer in January 2010 in addition to many other reported cases of torture on child domestic workers.
Ms. Samar Minhallah while sharing experiences of making the documentary said that the documentary is aimed at generating a dialogue and awareness on the issue to break the cycle of suppression. She regretted that child domestic labour is considered a norm and not a violation of children’s rights. She urged the media to come forward and dig out more facts of the lives of child domestic workers so that our government may wake up.
Mr. Zulfiqar Shah, Joint Director Piler said that child domestic workers are small children who face the hardships of life at such a fragile age.
Mr.Saif Ullah Chaudhry from ILO, highlighted the international laws and obligations regarding child domestic labour including cultural context, root causes, hazards, and ILO conventions. He said that ILO Convention 138 on minimum age of child labour and Convention 182 on worst forms of child labour, Convention 29 and 105 on forced labour have been ratified by Pakistan but the issue remains unsolved at the ground-level. He insisted to promote education and skills to eliminate child labour.
Ms. Quatrina Hossain, journalist called for elimination of child domestic labour. She admitted that the media has failed to play its role for the cause and vowed to raise this issue on her programme regularly.
Ms. Baela Raza Jamil, Director Idara-e-Taleem-o-Agahi stressed the need for legislation to eliminate child domestic labour. She highlighted the myths and realities associated with child domestic labour.
Ms. Farah Naz Ispahanai MNA in her keynote address said terrorism has affected the economy as well as increased the number of orphan children forcing them into child labour. She lamented the adverse working conditions for the girl child workers and urged the government to make efforts to change the mindsets of the people who were unkind to wards children.
SPARC had also invited the father of Tehmina, child domestic worker who died after serious spine injuries resulting from inhuman torture by her employers, and also the father of two missing maids Razia aged 8 and Sadiqa aged 16 years, who requested people not to send their children to work at any cost.
Ms. Zakia Shahnawaz, Advisor to CM Punjab assured her full support to the father of the missing maids.
Ms Gulnara Shahinian, the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, in her message for the conference said that child domestic labour is form of modern slavery. She urged the government of Pakistan to comply with the international commitments regarding protection of child rights.
Ms. Amina Sarwar shared the findings of the research on Child Domestic Labour in Pakistan conducted by SPARC and said that the study sheds light on the life and working conditions of child domestic workers.
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