Eid gifts distributed among juvenile inmates

Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) distributed Eid gifts among juvenile inmates at the Remand Home in Nazimabad, Karachi.

Akhtar Mangi, the Superintendent Remand Home, on the occasion shared with audience that the Remand Home was established in 1973 under the Sindh Children Act 1955, said a press release issued on Thursday.

Mangi appreciated the contribution of Sparc, which not only repainted the entire Building in 2009 but has also provided clothes for children, blankets, ceiling fans, exhaust fans and mattresses for sleeping on the floor, computer and printer.

With such support, he said, the life at the Home and work has been improved. He further said that in the absence of vehicle and security guards they face problems in producing children in the courts. But it becomes more troublesome when Remand Home receives an injured child by police or public, he said. It takes four to five days to get formal permission from the police department to take the injured child to the Civil Hospital Karachi. In the absence of immediate medical treatment, the child suffers a lot due to pain.

On the occasion, Abdullah Khoso, Manager at Sparc said the Remand Home is a form of detention for alleged offender children who have come in conflict with the laws. It is meant for the custody, trial, protection, treatment, and rehabilitation of children.

But sadly, he said, it is the only place for very minor juveniles throughout Sindh which is an open violation of the Sindh Children Act 1955 and Juvenile Justice System Ordinance 2000. Further, he added that it is the most neglected area in the juvenile justice system. The home occupies very small space relegating children to sleep on the floor, having no space to play inside the building whereas outdoor games are out of the way.

On the occasion, a child, (F), aged 12 years said that he was implicated in a false case of theft by police as unfortunately he was present at the time when the crime took place. He said that he, his father and brothers are laborers and he will miss his parents and friends on the occasion of Eid.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
By our correspondent
http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=210818