The 121st radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) aired on the subject theme.
The first guest on the show, Mr. Imran Takar, a child rights activist from Peshawar, noted that our children not only just need food, education and health facilities but there are many other basic rights that they are entitled to. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – a legally-binding international agreement – sets out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every child, regardless of race, religion or abilities. Having agreed and ratified this and as a matter of its international commitment, it is the responsibility of state to extend these rights while also onboarding the society to ensure their implementation. These include the right to life, survival and development, protection from violence, abuse or neglect, education that helps them reach their true potential, express their opinions and be listened to, and be raised by, or have a relationship with, their parents. The children also need justice like the adult population.
The vision of the founder of Pakistan for indiscriminate equality and inclusion is pretty much applicable to the rights of children.
The second guest on the show, Mohammad Idrees, CRSS’s Ulasi Taroon Alumnus and a student of Islamia College University, Peshawar, noted that there is a critical importance attached to the child rearing process given their future roles in the development of the society. They should be given the care and rights they deserve as an essentiality for their healthy upbringing.
Participation in the CRSS’s Ulasi Taroon workshops was an enchanting experience and helped inculcating open-mindedness among us. Such workshops are of special utility to and should be continued to be held for the students from rural areas who do not have access to such opportunities. Peace is dependent upon the mindset; what you think, believe and how you act.
The participants concluded that children belong to a vulnerable group in the society. They need to be protected socially and constitutionally.
About Ulasi Taroon
Ulasi Taroon is a counter radicalization initiative of Center for Research and Security Studies that aims to address the radicalization challenges, extremist ideologies and foster social cohesion through a discourse anchored in the core constitutional values which are fundamentally essential prerequisites for social peace and harmony. The endeavor aims to cultivate and sensitize the people of KP in the core values in the Pakistani constitution and our social contract. It’s an attempt to highlight the criticality of abiding by these ideals – such as adherence to rule of law, primacy and sanctity of constitution, equal citizenry, responsible citizenship, respect for fundamental human rights, tolerance for diversity and different opinions, inclusive democracy and good governance – as a measure of strengthening social cohesion and promoting peaceful co-existence.