Child Protection

Sindh is hub of agro-industrial economy. Children form a low cost labor force to cater human resource needs, depriving children from their fundamental rights. There is lack of protective/preventive legislation in Sindh. DevCon being right based organization recognizes children rights at the core of organizational ethos. Organization acknowledges right-based advocacy instrumental for raising awareness about children rights and pushing legislation bodies for protective legislation. To compliment this objective, organization pursues comprehensive community mobilization approach, forming civil society networks and building their capacity on child rights to enhance outreach of child rights monitoring across Sindh.

Approach of Intervention

Community Organization and Mobilization.

Sensitizing communities on child rights and child protection and establishing and strengthening community structures in two districts of Sindh such as Sanghar and Shaheed Benazirabad. Six CBOs have been formed through democratic process and capacitated in order make them a voice for their children’s rights. The community organization and mobilization process is on-going in new communities.

Establishment of Child Protection Units

Under this approach DevCon has established Child Protection System, a referral mechanism, with the support of Community and Government line Departments such as Social Welfare, Police, Judiciary, Health and Education. Thousands of children had been benefited from Child Protection Unit and it is successfully working after phasing out of DevCon.

Developed Interagency Protocols

With regard to child protection, participation and case referral, DevCon has introduced Inter Agency Protocols for smooth working among GALs/CSOs with respect to the functioning of Child Protection Unit.

Capacity Building of Key Stakeholders

DevCon organized number of the trainings to build the capacity of all service delivery government agencies i.e Police, Judiciary, Health, Education, Zakat, Social Welfare, Nadra, Baitul Mal, Labor Department on children related laws in Sindh, International Children Convention i.e UN CRC, its concluding observations and recommendations.

Formation of Child Rights Advocacy Network (District)

In order to increase the outreach of Child Protection Programme in District Sanghar and ensure its sustainability, DevCon has facilitated the formation of Child Rights Advocacy Network (CRAN) comprised registered civil society organizations. DevCon is building the capacity of CRAN network on CRC, CRP and reporting etc. This network serves as vigilante in district to raise voice for children rights, violations etc at different forums. The Network is active and functioning as per its mandate after exit of DevCon from project.

Child Rights Movement in Sindh

DevCon become member Child Rights Movement Sindh in 2012 and actively participated in advocacy and policy level intervention of CRM for protection and promotion of rights of child. Keeping in view child protection portfolio of organization in Sindh, DevCon decided to contest election of CRM Sindh and got elected with heavy majority. There are 43 CSO member of CRM across Sindh Province indicating networking and linkages strength of organization. CRM Sindh Secretariat is active and vigilant to advocate the implementation of UNCRC concluding observations, recommendation and UPR Recommendation at Policy level.

Child Rights Legislation

DevCon on the platform of Child Rights Movement in collaboration with Alliance Against Child Marriages lobbied with parliamentarian, Sindh government and played an active role for enactment of Sindh Child Marriage Restrained Bill 2013.

Ongoing Engagements, Legislation.

DevCon is working on implementation of SCMR Act 2014 and enactment of Sindh Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill 2011. Sindh Prohibition of Children Employment Bill 2012 and notification of Sindh Child Protection Authority Act. DevCon is also working with leading training institute such as Sindh Judicial Academy and Saeedabad Police Academy Karachi, where we have jointly organized number of the trainings to build capacity of senior government officials, judiciary and Police on Protection and Promotion of Child Rights.

DevCon’s Interventions on Child Protection

18 Dec 2020