General Measure Taken to Improve the Situation of Girl Child in Pakistan
Pakistan ratified UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990).
Initiated for convening of World Summit for Children 1990
Prepared National Plan of Action in line with out come of World Summit for Children 1990.
Pakistan joined the SAARC partners in declaring of Decade of Girl Child in SAARC Summit at Male, Maldives in 1990.
National Plan of Action for Girl Child developed in line with SAARC Declaration for the improvement of situation of Girl Child in Pakistan.
Ratified Convention on Elimination of all form of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)- 1996.
Constituted National Expert Committee on Registration at Birth headed by Chairman NADRA, for work on computerized system for the registration of children Project will be launched after 14th August 2001 under the new local government system. Children under 18 years of age including Girl Child will be issued birth registration certificates.
Developed Draft National Plan of Action to Combat Child Abuse and Sexual Exploitation in line of Stockholm Declaration and Plan of Action.
Adopted of National Policy and Plan of Action for Elimination of Child Labour (2000).
Cabinet approved signing of two Optional Protocols to Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.
Cabinet approved on ratification of ILO Convention 182 on Elimination of Worst Form of Child Labour and Convention 100 on Equal Remuneration for Men and Women for Work of Equal Value.
Promulgation of Juvenile Justice System Ordinance –2000.
Media networking on the children has been initiated to support achievements under social sector development focused on right of the Child / Girl Child.
SAARC Decade of Girl Child 1991 – 2000
During this period there was no substantial increase in allocation of financial resources in the education sector. It started around 2.1% and increased to 2.5% before coming down again to 2.1% of total GNP.
The Social Action Programme phase-I and II were mainly concentrated on improvement of Girl Child access to the primary education. The Enrollment rate of the female children increased from 43% to 63% while the enrollment rate of male children increased from 81% to 86%.
Number of primary schools for girls increased from 44602 to 48000 in public sector and 2200 in private sector. In this way middle schools for girls increased from 5000 to 6000 in public sector and 2000 in privates sector while the girl high school increased from 3000 to 4000 in public sector and 2000 in private sector, since 1998 to 2000.
Under Girls Primary Education Development Project ( GPEDP phase-I ) 800 model community schools were established ( at a cost of Rs.1762.92 million) and Rs. 2736.3 million have been allocated for (GPEDP phase-II).
The Education Foundation has established 200 community schools with the help of 20 NGOs.
Non-Formal Education project for adolescent girl / rural women aged 15-25 Projects costing 42.8 million US$ has been launched aimed at benefiting 200,000 rural women in skill development, employment and in come generation.
The Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal has established 52 rehabilitation / education centres for working children with components for girl child. While 384 such centres are being opened by NGOs and other private sector enterprises.
At the policy level education reform ( 2001-2003) has been concentrated on creating gender balance in education at all level.
- In future all new schools will be mixed schools.
- 70% teachers in new schools will be female.
- The recruitment age of female teachers has been relaxed to increase their availability.
- To retain girl child in rural school free text books, stipends and nutritional supplement are being provided in disadvantaged and far flung areas.
- Government has encouraged female participation in governance by allocating 33% seats to them in Local Government level. This will have direct/ indirect benefits and far-reaching positive impact the girl child in Pakistan.
During this period there was no substantial increased in allocation of financial resources. It was around 0.7% to 0.9% of total GNP.
Infant mortality rate (IMR) has decreased from 106 /1000 in 1990 to 81/1000 in 1998.
Under 5 mortality rate (U5MR) decreased from 162/1000 in 1990 to 108 /1000 in 1998.
Under weight prevalence due to severe and moderate mal-nutrition among under-5 children reduced from 48 in 1990 to 28 in 1998.
Gender equality through adoption of lady health workers programme and women health project. 56,000 lady health workers have been recruited. 856 maternity and child health centres are working all over the country where 2200 nurses and 13000 LHVs have been appointed.