Covid-19 disturbs routine life of children

F.P. Report 

PESHAWAR: Representatives of various organizations have expressed profound grief over quarantine measures for hitting children hard and said the Covid-19 pandemic has disturbed routine life of children.

In this regard, a virtual meeting for members was held by Da Hawwa Lur, leading the Child Rights Movement KP Secretariat, in order to have discussion on the Impact and Challenges to Child Rights and Protection amid COVID-19.

CEO of Da Hawwa Lur, Khursheed Bano expressed that closure of schools and restrictive mobility has disrupted children daily routine.  She mentioned that we can observe the surge in the child abuse cases, exploitation and psychological distress during the lockdown situation which can have far-reaching, long term negative impact on children. Loss of income and financial droughts among families is increasing the livelihood of child labor, child marriages and violence on children at homes, said Khursheed Bano.

Imran Takkar, Project-Coordinator Group Development Pakistan, continuing the discourse stressed the severity of the issue. He emphasized more on the psychological impact on children under lock down. According to him a sense of uncertainty and anxiety is prevailing among children as they are unsure about their examinations and recommencement of schools.

Discontent with the working of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection and Welfare Commission, Mr  Takkar said the said responsible legal institution is invisible in playing its mandatory role in the current pandemic situation where children are at risk anywhere. Further there is no policy level strategy from KP Elementary and Secondary Education department for the postponed matric and secondary examinations in the province, he asserted.

Program Manager of Da Hawwa Lur, Shawana Shah stressed the need of ensuring that there is a proper strategy for those children who have contracted COVID-19 and are currently quarantine and isolated from their parents that they are safe, secure and away from all kind of abuses. She also emphasizes that KP government should share a separate segregated data of corona affected children, while there is a dire need of an exclusive health care centers for affected children. Shahida Shah shared that Ministry of Human Rights is working to collect data of recent child abuse cases during lockdown.  CRM KP Chapter can be of great help in data collection, she said.

All CRM members were of the opinion that the government shall take CSO’s on board as they are working on grass root level and can highlight issues related to child rights and protection in much effective way. They stressed that the coordination between CSO’s and government is the need of hour to take urgent measures to protect child rights. The choices governments make now are crucial not only to mitigate their issues but to benefit children over the long term, emphasized by all members.