Sindh Human Rights Commission organizes event to mark World Day Against Child Labor. Speakers call for action to eliminate child labor
Karachi, Sindh
Despite national policies to combat the child labor, Pakistan ranks among the countries having the highest child labor rate in South Asia, noted the speakers at an event jointly organized by Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), to mark the World Day Against Child Labor on June 11, in Karachi. The theme of the event was “Let’s act on our commitments: End Child Labor!”
The speakers urged collective action from governments, employers, workers, and civil society to eliminate child labor. “The negative impacts of child labor include health and safety risks, disrupted education, hindered development, reduced productivity, increased crime, exploitation, damage to international image and human rights, psychological harm, impaired cognitive growth, and links to trafficking and crime,” they said.
The event, aimed to address child labor in Sindh, brought together policymakers, officials, civil society, and humanitarian organizations to discuss and strategize future measures to eradicate child labor.
Iqbal Ahmed Detho, Chairperson of SHRC, discussed slow societal changes despite laws protecting children’s rights and noted the urgent need to address the 30,000 street children in Karachi.
Detho said despite a 3 billion rupee budget for textbooks, challenges remain in distribution. He proposed a Book Bank and emphasized proper use of School Management Committee funds. He also highlighted the Sindh Protection and Promotion of Breast-Feeding and Young Child Nutrition Act 2023 to improve child nutrition.
Gul Masoti, a Board Member of SPARC, Stressed the need for effective implementation of child labor laws and shared success stories of children overcoming labor through education.
Dr. Fozia Hameed, MPA – MQM-Pakistan, Mirza Ishtiaq Baig, from the business community and President of Make-A-Wish Foundation, Dr. Junaid Memon Alam, Professor of Development Studies, at IBA University Karachi, Shumaila Muzzamil, SPARC, Kashif Mirza, Program Manager at SPARC, and Rana Asif Habib, President of the Initiator Human Development Foundation, also spoke.
The speakers highlighted the urgent need for concrete actions against child labor in Pakistan. They emphasized that child domestic labor is exploitative, violates human rights, and hinders social and economic development. They also pointed out that poverty, inflation, and the lack of affordable education are key factors driving children into labor.
A panel discussion of children on child labor was held alongside a theatre performance addressing the same issue. (PR)
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