STAFF REPORTER
PESHAWAR : Government institutions, law enforcement agencies, legal experts, educators, journalists and civil society representatives have pledged to intensify joint efforts to protect vulnerable children across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, calling for stronger coordination and targeted measures to address child labour, drug abuse and other emerging threats.
The commitment came during a high-level liaison meeting organised by Helvetas Pakistan under its Inclusive Protection for Vulnerable Children project. The meeting reviewed progress on child protection initiatives, assessed the impact of recent capacity-building programmes and discussed ways to strengthen coordination among institutions dealing with vulnerable children.
Participants said recent training and awareness initiatives had produced encouraging results at the grassroots level, including increased school enrolment and re-enrolment of out-of-school children, greater public awareness of statutory child rights and targeted efforts to reduce child labour through formal education and technical and vocational training.
Significant progress was also highlighted in the handling of children within the criminal justice system. Police personnel have received specialised training aimed at improving their response to cases involving minors, with greater emphasis on sensitivity, professionalism and the protection of children’s rights.
Prison authorities have also taken steps to keep juvenile offenders separate from adult inmates and introduce rehabilitation measures designed to facilitate their safe reintegration into society.
Meanwhile, social welfare institutions continue to work with children found begging on the streets, providing rescue, shelter, education and basic care as part of broader efforts to protect them from exploitation and other risks.
Legal experts at the meeting stressed the need for seamless coordination among relevant agencies, particularly in sensitive and high-profile cases involving minors. They emphasised the importance of protecting the identities of child victims, ensuring access to legal rights and providing appropriate psychosocial support.
Despite the progress, participants warned that widespread child labour and growing concerns over drug abuse among young people remain major challenges requiring urgent and coordinated action. They called for expanded specialised training for law enforcement officials and stronger economic support for vulnerable families to reduce the financial pressures that can push children into labour and other risky situations.
The participants agreed that sustainable child protection requires institutions to move beyond isolated interventions and work through a coordinated provincial framework. The meeting ended with a renewed commitment to strengthen inter-agency cooperation, with Helvetas Pakistan pledging to support continued collaboration aimed at creating a safer, more protective and supportive environment for children throughout Peshawar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
