Bureau Report
KOHAT: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Minister for Social Welfare, Special Education and Prisons Justice (R) Irshad Qaiser formally inaugurated the Child Protection Unit at Nishtar Special Education Center Kohat on Tuesday. The event was arranged by the Child Protection and Welfare Commission Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in collaboration with the UNICEF. Responsibilities of the Child Protection Unit includes filing of complaints related to incidents of violence against children, making child protection plans if needed, following up on registered cases and storing information, referring children to other departments if needed, providing facilities and services and monitoring implementation of child protection measures at the district level.
Social Welfare Minister Justice (R) Irshad Qaiser said that the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is committed to protect children and their caregivers while fulfilling its national and international obligations and all resources are being used for this important purpose. Similarly, the provincial government is in partnership with UNICEF trying to establish child protection units at the district level in the province, the strengthening of child protection helpline 1121, the establishment of community-based child protection structures, the establishment of district child protection committees and crafting a comprehensive child protection policy and a lot of work has been done in this regard, she added. She appreciated the efforts of UNICEF in the province regarding the child protection.
Irshad Qaiser said that children are our future therefore, all out efforts would be made for their safety, welfare and provide them better opportunities. She termed the establishment of child protection units as an important measure for the safety, welfare and rights of children and said that the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has taken the lead over the whole of Pakistan in this regard, which is very welcoming step.
Chief Protection Officer of Child Protection Commission Ijaz Ahmed, Child Protection Specialist of UNICEF Sohail Ahmed, Professor Mamoon Khattak of Kohat University and Program Manager Muhammad Waseem also addressed on the occasion and highlight the importance of child protection in detail.
Later, the Minister formally inaugurated the Child Protection Unit by cutting the ribbon. She also visited different sections of the unit.
