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| PAKISTAN: 1.2 Million Street Children Abandoned and Exploited
An estimated 1.2 million children are on the streets of Pakistan's major cities and urban centers, constituting the country's largest and most ostracized social group. These include 'Runaway' children who live or work on the street, as well as the minority that return to their families at the end of the day with their meager earnings. According to a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) survey, 72% of working children do not have contact with their families and 10% have no knowledge of their families. Statistics bode ill for this nation where more than 40% of the population is under 15, 48 million people live below the poverty line and earn less than US.00 a day. Nine out of 100 children die before they reach their first birthday. Half the population is illiterate. "Street wise" as early as four, these children beg and scavenge around rubbish dumps or industrial waste sites or take on menial jobs as cart pushers or dish washers, working 12-15 hours a day to earn around 75 rupees or US.25- enough to buy a meal if they are fortunate. Most survive by prostituting themselves, stealing or smuggling, making them vulnerable to contracting sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Jaundice and liver or kidney disorders. A large proportion sniffs cheap, readily available solvents to starve off hunger, loneliness and fear. Child 'rental' for begging is a new and increasingly popular phenomenon among poor households. Parents 'rent' their children out to an individual or group and both parties share the child's earnings. The inhumane treatment drives children to drugs and into the arms of criminal gangs who promise protection, food and a better life.[Source: CRIN] Posted on 2005-05-04 |
Source >> http://acr.hrschool.org/mainfile.php/0228/461/
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The above article seems surprising, but it is the fact we see every day on the traffic signals and on the streets.
Most of these children fell in to the prostitution and drug trafficking. We see them around us every day but no one is bothered to do any thing about it.
Children are our future and we are doing nothing to save our future from the hands of mobsters, drug dealers, sex traders and a very harsh life which leads to a tragic death.
Request:
This is not just Pakistan’s problem its a worldwide issue
I need your comments and suggestions on this topic.
