Child Protection in Emergencies Strategy will be a great help for PDMA in building systems for ensuring protection of children in emergencies. Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has taken a great initiative by providing protection to the child during natural and man-made disasters, said Mrs. Reham Khan during a high level meeting held here in Peshawar. Official from PDMA and Govt. of KP line departments, representatives from national and international humanitarian organization attended the meeting. Mrs. Reham said at the occasion, we also know that the lack of investments on securing the well being of children, from all forms of violence, neglect, exploitation and abuse and the impacts of disasters and poverty has many-fold future repercussions both for the children, at their adulthood, the families, the nations and the world, at large. Mr. Tariq Rasheed, Secretary Relief Rehabilitation & Settlement Department said at the occasion, that Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has successfully developed its Child Protection in Emergencies Strategy. Ensuring protection of children in emergencies is a vital area where government and non-government actors together need to work for effective planning and designing interventions for safe guarding children. He said, I want to assure my support to assist in carrying out of this strategy meaningfully and with dedication. It is responsibility of the state to ensure protection of children with a wide approach and by involving different sectors and actors. He said, I am confident that the strategic priority areas in this document will assist PDMA and related stakeholders in contributing towards to needs of children in all phases of emergencies and formulating better response preparation. I will extend my gratitude to all who contributed towards formulation of this important document and look ahead to a shared work for achieving the determined goals. Mr. Amer Afaq, Director General, PDMA said, Child protection in emergencies is a very important aspect of disaster management. Children as being nearly all vulnerable need special response, relief and rehabilitation strategies and care. Timely planning an accurate response reduces the risk to vulnerable population. This child protection in emergencies strategy will help in directional approach and strengthening the commitment of all state and non-state actors. Four strategic priority areas have been identified and steps defined in the strategy will assist PDMA in effective planning and response mechanisms for safeguarding children. I thank all who contributed in this process and look forward for collaborative work in carrying out the planned actions. While talking to the forum, Angela Kearny, Representative of UNICEF Pakistan said, children are, undisputedly, our common interest and focus. And, as Representative of the United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF, to work towards the respect, fulfilment and protection of children’s rights all over the world, this is very much close to my heart; both from the personal and professional stand-points. She said, we know, through empirical evidence and daily observations, that children, especially girls, are the most vulnerable segment of our society, for the reasons ranging from their dependence on care – givers to non-sensitive public policies, development focus, budgeting and weak governance and accountability systems.Child Protection in Emergencies Strategy will be a great help for PDMA in building systems for ensuring protection of children in emergencies. Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has taken a great initiative by providing protection to the child during natural and man-made disasters, said Mrs. Reham Khan during a high level meeting held here in Peshawar. Official from PDMA and Govt. of KP line departments, representatives from national and international humanitarian organization attended the meeting. Mrs. Reham said at the occasion, we also know that the lack of investments on securing the well being of children, from all forms of violence, neglect, exploitation and abuse and the impacts of disasters and poverty has many-fold future repercussions both for the children, at their adulthood, the families, the nations and the world, at large. Mr. Tariq Rasheed, Secretary Relief Rehabilitation & Settlement Department said at the occasion, that Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has successfully developed its Child Protection in Emergencies Strategy. Ensuring protection of children in emergencies is a vital area where government and non-government actors together need to work for effective planning and designing interventions for safe guarding children. He said, I want to assure my support to assist in carrying out of this strategy meaningfully and with dedication. It is responsibility of the state to ensure protection of children with a wide approach and by involving different sectors and actors. He said, I am confident that the strategic priority areas in this document will assist PDMA and related stakeholders in contributing towards to needs of children in all phases of emergencies and formulating better response preparation. I will extend my gratitude to all who contributed towards formulation of this important document and look ahead to a shared work for achieving the determined goals. Mr. Amer Afaq, Director General, PDMA said, Child protection in emergencies is a very important aspect of disaster management. Children as being nearly all vulnerable need special response, relief and rehabilitation strategies and care. Timely planning an accurate response reduces the risk to vulnerable population. This child protection in emergencies strategy will help in directional approach and strengthening the commitment of all state and non-state actors. Four strategic priority areas have been identified and steps defined in the strategy will assist PDMA in effective planning and response mechanisms for safeguarding children. I thank all who contributed in this process and look forward for collaborative work in carrying out the planned actions. While talking to the forum, Angela Kearny, Representative of UNICEF Pakistan said, children are, undisputedly, our common interest and focus. And, as Representative of the United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF, to work towards the respect, fulfilment and protection of children’s rights all over the world, this is very much close to my heart; both from the personal and professional stand-points. She said, we know, through empirical evidence and daily observations, that children, especially girls, are the most vulnerable segment of our society, for the reasons ranging from their dependence on care – givers to non-sensitive public policies, development focus, budgeting and weak governance and accountability systems.