"It’s an honour to join UNICEF."
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has officially appointed Saba Qamar as Pakistan’s first child rights ambassador.
This announcement coincided with the International Day of the Girl Child.
It is a significant occasion dedicated to advocating for girls’ rights and addressing the unique challenges they face around the world.
Expressing her gratitude for the new role, Saba Qamar said:
“It’s an honour to join UNICEF. I will promote our shared mission of ensuring every child’s rights, wherever I am.”
She reflected on her recent travels, highlighting the difficulties that children and women encounter in Pakistan.
The actress also emphasised the positive impact of UNICEF’s initiatives in the region:
“I am committed to doing my part for the children and youth of Pakistan, enabling them to dream and achieve those dreams.”
As a UNICEF ambassador, Saba aims to utilise her platform to raise awareness about various issues affecting young people in Pakistan.
These include child marriage, mental health, educational access, gender equality, climate change, and the dire consequences of violence, exploitation, and child poverty.
Child marriage remains a pressing issue in Pakistan, with approximately 19 million child brides, making it one of the highest rates globally.
Alarmingly, over half of adolescent girls are pregnant before the age of 18, which poses significant health risks for both mothers and children.
UNICEF warned that without immediate intervention, it could take decades to eliminate child marriage in the country.
The press release for the announcement read:
“A whole-of-society approach is needed to prevent this harmful practice and protect current and future generations of young girls, one of the country’s greatest untapped resources.”
Abdullah Fadil, a UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, welcomed Saba Qamar to the organisation.
He described her as a courageous and influential advocate for women’s and girls’ rights.
Mr Fadil expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with her to tackle the significant challenges facing children in Pakistan today.
He claimed they will enhance their efforts to ensure that every child can reach their full potential.
Saba’s fans appreciated her efforts to minimise the problems young girls face in the country.
A user wrote:
“You are the POWER WOMAN for sure in reel as well as real life.”
One commented: “I always knew that this woman would one day do something big.”
The actress has stepped into a role that promises to bring attention to critical issues affecting the nation’s youth.
With Saba Qamar’s appointment, there is renewed hope for the advancement of child rights in Pakistan.
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