ISLAMABAD - Plan International’s global advocacy campaign titled “Learn without Fear” was launched on Friday with the objective to prevent all forms of violence against children in schools.
Federal Minister and Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme Farzana Raja inaugurated the campaign, which was attended by a large number of senior government officials, diplomats, representatives of national and international development organisations, civil society and media persons.
Roger Braden, Acting Country Director of Plan Pakistan delivered a welcome speech on the occasion.
Quoting from a study conducted by Plan Pakistan in Punjab, he said the practice of corporal punishment was at 89 per cent in the areas researched and contrary to popular belief, it is practised equally in both rural and urban settings.
Speaking on the occasion Chief Guest Federal Minister and Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme Farzana Raja said that she was pleased to see Plan Pakistan taking up an initiative to curb school-related violence.
“If we want to seriously address the issue of violence prevalent in our society, we have to ensure that our schools become places where our children learn about peace and tolerance,” she said. She further stressed that violence should never be allowed and everyone had the right to live in non-violent ways.
“Our government is committed to improving the status of education for all in Pakistan and is working towards the goal of a healthy and prosperous nation”, she added. While speaking at the occasion Ramrajya Joshi, the Programme Support Manager of Plan Pakistan made a presentation on Plan and its work in Pakistan.
this news item was taken from source
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-ne...ent-at-schools
on 24-8-2010