UNICEF launches initiative on violence against children

UNICEF on Wednesday launched a new initiative on violence against children, calling on the international community to speak out against it. The 'End Violence Against Children' initiative seeks to build on growing popular outrage following attacks against children, including the 2012 shooting of then 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai in Pakistan, the fatal shooting of 26 pupils and teachers in Newtown in US and gangrapes in India and South Africa.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some 150 million girls and 73 million boys under 18 years experienced sexual violence and exploitation, and an estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked every year, according to a 2005 report by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

The latest initiative urges people around the world to recognise violence against children. The initiative was unveiled today with a video narrated by UNICEF goodwill ambassador and actor Liam Neeson.

India-born Mamnoon Hussain elected as Pakistan's 12th president

• Pakistan has elected businessman Mamnoon Hussain (Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) Party) as its 12th president, replacing unpopular Asif Ali Zardari whose five-year term expires in September.
• Ally of Nawaz Sharif (who made him governor of Sindh in 1999)
• The office of the president is ceremonial in Pakistan but he is still the constitutional chief of the armed forces but cannot order deployments.
• Pakistan so far had 11 presidents, out of which five were military generals. 
• Four of them seized powers through coups.
• The president was indirectly elected by members of both houses of parliament and the four provincial assemblies.
• Under Zardari, the presidency was largely stripped of powers though he enjoyed considerable influence in the previous administration.
• After Nawaz Sharif's thumping election victory on May11, the success of his party's nominee in the presidential race was a foregone conclusion.