ISLAMABAD: International Street Children Day is being observed across the world including Pakistan. Celebrating this day is meant to create awareness about the rights of homeless children who spend their lives on footpaths and streets.
According to UN’s report, over 10 crore children are spending their lives on footpaths and streets while over 15 lakhs children in Pakistan are homeless.
94% of boys come to the streets and girls are only 6% while 56% children out of them come on streets due to domestic violence and 22% come to the streets due to hardships and violence in schools and educational institutions.
According to various research estimates, 63% of street children become victims of different diseases including AIDS and hepatitis due to rape and use of drugs.
Thousands of children are compelled for begging and doing some small work on streets around the world. A law was passed in Pakistan in 1995 which declared Children begging a crime in Pakistan but this law could not be implemented yet till today.