Udayan Care an India based NGO working for Orphaned and abandoned children organized a Seminar on Institutionalised Children Standards of Care and Mental Health at Amity University Noida – New Delhi India from 14 -15 March 2014 with the collaboration of different multinational companies. Around 100 of delegates from SAARC countries including Pakistan and others countries in which Australia, UK participated in the seminar. A three member’s delegation of Pakistan Council for Social Welfare & Human Rights (PCSW&HR) headed by Mr. Muhammad Ijaz Noori Chairman PCSW&HR also participated in the said seminar. Mr. Tahir Mehmood Hundli Advocate Ex- Member Provincial Assembly Punjab and Mr. Mansoor Ahmed Executive Director PCSW&HR were also part of PCSW&HR delegation who participated in the seminar at Amity University Noida New Delhi India.
The key objectives of the seminar were:
- To share the stand point of South Asian countries in compliance with international standards on child protection in institutions.
- To analyze the role of institutions contributing towards child protection in the eight countries of South Asia.
- To present the good practices on standards of care and mental health provided to institutionalized children in South Asian countries.
- To identify the impediments faced by institutionalized children related to attachment, loss, grief and trauma with a special focuses on South Asian countries.
- To launch the journal “Institutionalised Children: Explorations and Beyond (ICEB)
While addressing the last session of Seminar Chairman Pakistan Council for Social Welfare & Human Rights Mr. Muhammad Ijaz Noori said that this is a great opportunity for me to visit India from my family after more than 65 years when my family migrated from here to Pakistan, due to the birth place of my parents I am really touching to come India and address this wonderful gathering in the Indian National language HINDI which I learnt from grandparents who migrated from India in 1947.
He said that without the protection of child rights no one can think about the protection of human rights in the society. So it is need of hour to adopt the collective measures for the protection of child rights at SAARC countries level. He emphasized that all SAARC countries should play their role for the protection of child rights ignoring the all of conflicts and regional difference. Pakistan and India must play their vital role in this regard. Mr. Noori also said that Pak – India better relations is guarantee for the sustainable human development, protection of human & child rights, eradication of poverty and peace in the region and due to better relations mutual friendship between both countries we may give better future to our children and next generation. He urged that all SAARC members’ countries have to play their role to make this association more effective on the patron of European Union, so that SAARC may play its vital role for the protection of child rights, human rights, sustainable human development, peace & justice, flourish of relations among the civilizations as well as eradication of regional conflicts. He also said that Pakistan and India are reality and Governments and public of both nations have to accept this reality, we have to step forward and forget our past so that we may meet the challenges in the effective manners. He further said that although we are two countries with our geographical boundaries but to protect the child rights and child care we are united because the children are our future and it is our moral obligation to protect our future with our collective efforts without any discrimination of countries boundaries, regions and creeds. He also urged the need for increased people to people interaction between India and Pakistan to build the culture of peace at the region. He also said that both countries should adopt the more measures and steps to improve the relations and have to work with open mind for the normalization of relations and friendship between both countries to ensure the sustainable development in the region. After the seminar PCSW&HR’s delegation and Udayan Care also exchanged gifts to each others. During the seminar PCSW&HR’s delegation also met with the delegates of organization from different countries in which India, Afghanistan, Maldives, and Bangladesh etc.
