World Street Children News :: Pakistan Streetkid News

Children on an empty stomach on empty streets

By Amar Guriro

KARACHI: At a time when all the commerce in Karachi is facing a shutdown and there is an acute shortage of basic necessities in the city like food and fuel, no one is finding the going tougher than the street-children of Karachi.
“I have not had a single bite to eat since yesterday morning as I was unable to find anything,” said nineteen-year-old Sajid, whose sustenance comes from the charity given at the shrines and different hotels of Karachi. Sajid was born in Multan. He has four sisters and three brothers. His father was a drug addict who regularly beat his wife and children compelling Sajid to run away from home. He first went to Sukkur but soon found himself living on the streets of Karachi, the commerce capital of Pakistan.
According to the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), there are 25,000 homeless children living on the streets of Karachi.
“These children are either orphans and have no one to look after them or they have fled from their homes because of unbearable living conditions,” SPARC regional manager Akhtar Baloch told Daily Times.
He said these children live near shrines, religious places, and areas with a large number of food shops as they rely on charity. Since most of the hotels have been closed for the last four days and there has been no one visiting the shrines, the street children have been hit hard.
“I hangout with my friends on a small off-street of Burns Road, the food street of Karachi. There are six hotels there where hundreds of the people dine daily and some of them buy us food which last us the whole day,” said Sajid.
Sajid was also unaware of what really happened that caused Karachi to become deserted all of a sudden. He has been moving from place to place looking for some activity (and food), but has had little luck yet.
“After finding the bazaars and shops closed, we (Sajid and his friends) moved to where the big tower [Empress Market tower] is located, but strangely it was as deserted as the rest of the city,” said Sajid.
The Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine, where in normal days you can get food round-the-clock, also proved a disappointment for Sajid and his friends and they have been forced to look in the garbage for edible items.

Seminar on ‘save street children’ held

Press Release

Bahawalpur: The Global Organisation for Human Empowerment and Rights (GOHER Foundation) arranged a Seminar on “Save The Street Children and Save Future of Pakistan” at the foundation’s secretariat.

GOHER Foundation Chief Executive AG Chohan presided over the seminar while a large number of people from different walks of life including journalists, teachers, parents, and representatives from different local NGOs attended the seminar. Stage secretary Muhammad Shahbaz highlighted the basic reasons of the increasing ratio of street children in the world.

City centres thronged by street children

* Children rights groups estimate over 50,000 street children living in Pakistan
* Police says criminal gangs of street children are patronised by influential people
* Psychologist believes street children likely to become criminals and terrorists

By Terence J Sigamony

RAWALPINDI: Going to bazaars, shopping malls, schools, mosques and shrines in the city has become difficult not because of tight security but because these places are thronged by street children who swarm around visitors.

Pirwadahi, Faizabad, Raja Bazar, Mareer Chowk and Sawan Adda have become havens of such children who have reached these places from rural Punjab, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and NWFP.

The term ‘street children’ was introduced in the 1980s to refer to children who live on or spend a lot of time on streets of the urban areas. NICEF categorises street children in two main categories.

The first category includes children on streets who are engaged in some economic activity. Most go home by the end of the day and contribute their earnings to their family’s earnings. They may be attending and retain a sense of belonging to a family but because of the economic fragility of their families, these children may eventually opt for a permanent life on streets.

The second category is of children who actually live on streets or outside a normal family environment. Family ties may exist but are tenuous and are maintained only casually or occasionally.

The number of children living on streets worldwide totals between 100 million and 150 million, while it is forecast that by 2020 the number will increase to 800 million. In Pakistan children’s rights groups have estimated that over 50,000 children live on streets.

Children at Pirwadahi and Faizabad are living in unhygienic and squalid conditions. They live in under-construction buildings, hotel basements and verandas of bus stands. Majority of such children has come to the city with expectations to fend for themselves or their families through various occupations but after arriving here, they discovered that streets were not paved with gold.

Kamal Ahmed alias Kami at the Pirwadhi bus stand said he ran away from his house five years ago because his father used to beat his mother on trivial issues. He never bore Kami’s expenses but always abused them.

He said, “One day my father came home drunk and when my mother asked for money, he started thrashing her. When I tried to protect my mother he thrashed me too. I decided to leave the house and come to Pindi but I did not know that I would land in more problems.”

Police in these areas are aware of criminal activities but are reluctant to put a stop to them. A police official confided to Daily Times that these gangs were very strong and had links with local influential people. He said they had arrested some street children on charges of pick pocketing three times, but superior officers ordered their release.

Saiqa Ashraf, a psychologist working on child sexual abuse, said these children become criminals, terrorists, revolutionaries, drug addicts and abusers. “They are starving and ignorant, destined to become thieves or victims of child sexual abuse. The girls become prostitutes but there is also male prostitution. The boys are uncontrollably violent and have lost the ability to feel emotions such as love. For the most part they are amoral,” she commented.

Some children say their parents asked them to beg or perform menial jobs like shoe polishing, car washing, cleaning in restaurants and selling flower garlands or small items. Their income rarely exceeded Rs 100.

“We have good days on Chand Raat, Eid and festivals,” said Mohammad Abid, a street child studying at Gharib Nawaz School.

He said he wanted to study but his father told him that he could not afford his school expenses and forced him to wash cars.

Street children have a sense of ownership to markets, bus stops and footpaths and do not allow outsiders, which are other street children, to ‘invade’ their territories.

A young girl, with a bandage around her head, said she had had a fight with another girl a day before because she was begging in her area.

Manizeh Bano, executive director of Sahil-an NGO working on street children’s issues, said street children are free and they do not have any obligations. There is no actual reason for street children to have any form of routine or stay in an area for a long time, but despite their freedom they often choose to stay in one place.

Shelter for street children arranged
By our correspondent
A local NGO Sehar foundation has arranged temporary shelters for the protection of street children against torrential rains at different marriage halls in Karachi.

According a press release received here on Sunday , the chairman of the organisation Iftikhar Gazali said that shelter is available to the hapless souls at marriage halls in North Nazimabad, Nasirabad, Gulshan Chowrangi, PIDC, Memon Community Hall (old city area) respectively.

These makeshift arrangements were said to have been made for street children of the city on an immediate basis after the first shower of the recent spell on last Tuesday evening.

The management of these halls not only agreed that their spaces be used for this purpose but also took upon the responsibility to arrange meals for these children.

The Lost Souls
Documentary on the street children of Karachi, Pakistan.

Pahchaan planning drop-in centre for street kids

Staff Report

LAHORE: Pahchaan, a local non-government organisation said on Tuesday that all those responsible for the well-being of society had to play an active role in protecting street children against neglect and abuse.

The NGO also said it was planning to open a drop in centre for such children with the help of international sponsors including the European Commission and Groupe Developpement and the organisation End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT).

Pahchaan issued a press statement, saying that its seminar called ‘Key Stakeholders’ Role in Protecting Street Children’ convened earlier in the day was primarily aimed at creating awareness among stakeholders including policemen, local governments, legal agencies, and employers to help rehabilitate and rescue street children.

Dr Naeem Zafar, president of Pehchaan, said the NGO was providing several services including food and shelter, skill building courses, hygiene courses, rest and recreation, psycho-social counselling, detoxification and legal protection. Also, the organisation was educating 200 street and working children in the city.

Other speakers discussed the impact of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, their vulnerability to abuse in public and work places such as parks and markets, the need for a system to detect AIDS in children and the need for the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau to register NGOs through a proper criteria.

The role of police and shrines was also highlighted in preventing street children from falling into the hands of drug dealers.

Police encouraged to cooperate with street children

KARACHI: To ensure a protective environment for street children and prevent them from street victimisation, 70 police officers were trained during a session of capacity building conducted jointly by the Capital City Police Karachi and The Azad Foundation at the ADRC office of the police station on Thursday. The purpose of the workshop was to encourage collaboration between the police, NGOs and the masses to take remedial measures for the prevention of child harassment, an issue largely overlooked and ignored in the public eye. Citing the official statistics of Azad Foundation, Legal Officer Farah Muzzamil Ehtisham said that there are approximately 10,000 -12,000 street children in Karachi, most of which live in Saddar and Jamshed Town. She said it is essential for the police and other officers to remain in contact with these children while patrolling the areas, and help maintain coordination among service providers who are working for the rehabilitation and reintegration of these street children. A situation analysis of Karachi conducted by The Azad Foundation further revealed the criminal record of street children. More than half of them had a criminal record. On average, approximately 3,500 street children have remained in police custody for 2-7 days. Data also showed that more than 3,000 were charged of theft, 3200 were arrested for drug addiction, and more than 2,000 claimed to be arrested without any reason. The main purpose of the training session was to sensitize the police officials about the grim situation of street children, and to bring an understanding of what they were feeling. Street children frequently come into contact with the police either because they need protection or are in conflict with the law. Through the workshop, the police staff was also reminded of the child friendly laws present in the constitution, and encouraged their implementation to prevent street victimization. Also present on the occasion was Sanaullah Abbasi SSP, Additional IG, CCPK, who elaborated that such awareness raising sessions can play a vital role to curb social evils. Two further sessions will be conducted in the near future with other police officials.

Horrific fate awaits children spurned by society

KARACHI: Out of the approximately 12,000-14,000 street children in Karachi, 50 percent fall victim to commercial sex exploitation, a majority of them being male children between 7-11 years of age. According to data recently revealed by NGO Azad Foundation, the number of street children in the city rose from 10,000 - 12,000 in 2004 to 12,000 - 14,000 in 2006. Consequently, an increasing trend in sex exploitation was also witnessed over the years. As disclosed by the street children near Bahadurabad and Allahwala Chowrangi, they continue to be harassed and sexually abused at the hands of passers-by. Due to this fear, these children prefer spending most of their time at drop-in centres that are operational during the day. “We feel more scared at night because that is when truck drivers and policemen harass us, but this centre is helpful because they teach us self-defence techniques,” says 13-year-old Umair Ali who has been living on the street for four years after he ran away from home because his family pressurised him to get a job. Most of the children, spotted in Saddar, Karimabad, Tariq Road, Kala Pul and parts of Clifton, when refused job opportunities, resort to pick-pocketing or sell sex for their day-to-day survival. The money earned is then spent on addictives like cigarettes, drugs and inhalants, mostly glues such as ‘Samad Bond’. “There are a lot of small hotels and restaurants that offer us food so that is never an issue for us. We don’t earn to make a living. The streets are where we spend our lives. It’s the drugs we need money for,” adds Umair, who further revealed that he was addicted to glue sniffing, a habit he is unwilling to give up. While most children are exploited by different kinds of abusers, many admitted that they indulge in sexual activity merely to satisfy their physical urge. “Male children usually become sexually active around the age of 11 years, and in some cases as early as the age of seven. The urge to satisfy this desire leads to a high number of sexual partners,” explains Dr Farah Iqbal, Professor at the department of Psychology and Research Coordinator for the NGO. She said that street children are at a high risk of sexual abuse, targeted primarily because they are vulnerable. Consequently, some children begin to offer sexual services to these people and become involved in ‘survival sex’. “Saddar is the hub of street children from all areas of Karachi,” says Aqsa Zainab of Azad Foundation, adding that child abusers are mostly found near shrines where ‘langar’ is distributed or near railway stations where they arrive from other cities. It is from here the young boys are kidnapped and sold as commercial sex workers. It was also stated by another 12-year-old, who refused to reveal his identity, that mini cinemas in Lines Area is one such place where they are taken by abusers to indulge in sexual activity. Aqsa also adds that they do not have any trusted adults or a support system that they can access which is why they prefer living in groups which makes them feel safer. Maqsood is one such leader of a group who, unlike most, tries his best to prevent the younger members of his group from abuse. “I have been on the streets for six years now and after several experiences of abuse, I have become well aware of people’s wrong intentions. I try to protect the younger children from abuse as much as I can and even fight for them if I have to, but there are times when abusers overpower us and kidnap the boys they like,” says the 16-year-old, who is mature enough for his age. “Some molesters riding in expensive cars come to us also and insist on taking the best looking and youngest child among us to satisfy their urge,” he adds. Maqsood says he has seen himself change after receiving an education and counselling by psychologists at the NGO. Apart from this it is reported that daily above 5,000 immigrants enter Karachi. Many of the international refugees, including Afghans and Bangladeshis, are mostly children who face even more exploitation and eventually become an easy prey for child abusers. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are found to be highest among these children too, who hardly survive their teenage years. When approached by The News, the children were particularly reluctant to share their sexual experiences and awareness about HIV/AIDS. Few of them admit that although they recognise the disease, they do not completely understand how it is transmitted and nor are they aware that the use of condom can protect against the disease. Given the observed situation of street children exploitation that dwells in parks, under bridges and abandoned buildings making children extremely vulnerable especially at night, it is imperative that the government and civil society be made responsible for their safety. Night care centres be established to discourage the practice, and they must be educated about sexually transmitted diseases to help build the self-confidence which is required to challenge a physically and mentally stronger adult. Moreover, training and self defense programmes should also be encouraged to ensure their protection.

Parents renting children out to gangs: Report
Web posted at: 1/30/2007 0:34:19
Source ::: Internews

KARACHI • Various reports compiled by different child rights organisations in Pakistan suggest that renting children by the parents to gangs is becoming a common practice in the country with Karachi having ample contribution to the menace.

These reports say these gangs use these children for begging by paying specific amount to their parents and taking their share from the child’s earnings.

“This menace is on the rise and the reason might be increasing poverty in the society,” Akhtar Hussain Baloch, regional manager of a private charity, Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc), says. He said that the gangs paid more money for a girl child than boys given the fact that girls attracted more attention of people for alms.

According to him, reports such as this should come as no surprise when everyone is aware of the existence of child beggar rackets.

“This nonetheless exasperates a situation where a child escapes the violent private domain to seek refuge in the sanctum of the public where all is visible, where indiscriminate violations are conducted less hastily for fear of reprise from the law,” he said.

Baloch said that such situations were increasing escapism among the children. They escape from a non-life of begging and abhorrent abuse at the hands of the adults of their society who are meant to protect them, he added.

Referring to such reports, he said as early as four, these children beg and scavenge around rubbish dumps or industrial waste sites and took on menial jobs as cart-pushers or dishwashers working 12-15 hours a day to earn around Rs75 — enough to buy a meal.

A report compiled by the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc) said most children survive by prostituting themselves and stealing, making them vulnerable to contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV/Aids.

“They are also at high risk from health problems such as tuberculosis, jaundice and kidney disorders.”

The report suggests that 83 per cent of street children were sniffing glue between the ages of eight to nineteen. Some 54 per cent left home at age

10-12 while 45 per cent children living on the streets are involved in crimes and 49 per cent are at high risk of HIV/Aids.

Baloch referred to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime assertion that 72 per cent of all street children had no contact with and 10 per cent had no knowledge of their families.

A large proportion of these children sniff cheap readily available glues to starve off hunger, loneliness and fear. He said some 35 laws pertaining to child rights existed in Pakistan but it seemed the authorities were doing a lot but to no avail.

According to him, since independence successive governments had passed and promulgated 27 laws pertaining to child rights while eight laws existed already including the Female Infanticide Prevention Act of 1870.

Pakistan street kids plagued by glue sniffing
07 Jan 2007 23:03:31 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Waheed Khan

KARACHI, Jan 8 (Reuters) - It’s a chilly night in a run-down part of the Pakistani city of Karachi and several boys squat in a dirty alley, getting high on glue.

Breathing in fumes from glue-soaked rags and glue-filled plastic bags is a daily ritual for these boys who live rough on the streets of Pakistan’s biggest city.

"The fumes burn the eyes and leave the body dry. It kills your appetite. But after being kicked and treated like a dog it gives you peace," said one of the boys, Mohammad Naeem.

Cheap at 50 rupees (85 cents) a tin and easier to get than illegal drugs, "Samad Bond" glue — the sniffers’ favourite brand — is flooding the streets of Karachi.

The Pakistan Medical Association says substance abuse among street children has reached alarming levels.

"If more is not done soon, Pakistan is heading for a street children hooked on glue crisis on the scale of other countries like Morocco and Brazil," said Qaiser Sajjad, the association’s general-secretary.

There are about 14,000 street children in Karachi and most are sniffing glue, said Aksa Zainab, a social worker who helps street kids at a drop-in centre operated by the Azad Foundation in cooperation with UNICEF.

"According to our research, 90 percent of these children are involved in glue sniffing or in some other solvent abuse," Zainab added.

The problem is getting worse as more and more poor parents with large families are unable to make ends meet and their children end up in the streets of Pakistani cities and towns.

Severe urban poverty, a rising cost of living and few job opportunities for the poor are causing the growing street children problem in Karachi, explained economist Asad Saeed.

"There is also no law on the compulsory education of children. It’s a free-for-all society," Saeed said.

LIVING ON THE STREETS

Akram, one of the boys sniffing glue in the alley, explains how he ended up homeless.

The 15-year-old, dressed in a ragged blue shirt and dirty jeans, said he ran away from his stepfather who beat him with iron rods and scorched him with cigarettes.

The boys make money cleaning cars and scavenging for scraps in rubbish.

"I wash cars, collect paper and metal from garbage dumps. I even beg for alms but I’m committing no crime," said Mohammad Khalil, one of few who prefers to sleep on the streets with his friends because of family fights at home.

Abdul Karim, a scruffy-haired boy with bucked teeth, is among a small group of street children who have kicked the glue habit.

Small and cocky, Karim attended a detoxification and rehabilitation programme at the Azad Foundation drop-in centre, which is housed in five small rooms in a narrow lane of a downtown residential area.

Karim is a regular visitor to the centre where children get clean clothes, food, medical aid, counselling and even schooling.

"I used to sniff glue until three months back. I used to feel dizzy and sleep all day. Now I feel better and am also trying to stop smoking cigarettes," said Karim.

One room at the centre has a television set, a major attraction for the kids, another has games and a third has been turned into a classroom with colourful charts and a chalk board.

"The numbers are increasing as they tell their friends of what benefits they get here," said social worker Zainab.