By Asim Shahzad
Adolescent girls and civil society experts participating in the commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child urged the government to ensure their meaningful inclusion in the formulation of policies and action plans that directly affect their lives.
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The event was organized by Search for Justice, in collaboration with the Children Advocacy Network, Global Network of Religions for Children, Child Rights Movement (Punjab), and Climate Action Now–Pakistan, under the global theme for 2025: “The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontlines of crisis.”
The commemoration featured a girls-led panel discussion, providing adolescent girls with a platform to voice their perspectives on critical issues and present concrete recommendations for policy and action.
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Yusra Muzzamil, a 16-year-old member of the Child Protection Forum of Search for Justice, highlighted the devastating impact of recent flooding in various parts of the country, particularly in Punjab. She said the floods destroyed homes, agricultural lands, and infrastructure, and severely damaged girls’ educational institutions, posing a serious threat to their right to education. Yusra stressed the need for a comprehensive response strategy to safeguard every girl’s right to education in line with Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan, which guarantees free and compulsory education to all children.
Abeeha called for a comprehensive, multi-sectoral strategy backed by adequate budgetary allocations and strong political will to protect children—especially adolescent girls—from economic exploitation, including the worst forms of child labour such as domestic work. She expressed concern over the rising cases of brutal torture of domestic workers, several of which have resulted in the deaths of adolescent girls. She urged federal and provincial governments to address the root causes of exploitation and integrate child rights education into school curricula to promote awareness and social change.
Neeha Munir, representing Climate Action Now–Pakistan, stressed the need to bridge the gap between youth-led climate activism and formal policy-making. She noted that girls remain underrepresented in climate governance despite being disproportionately affected by climate impacts. Neeha called for structured mechanisms for youth participation in climate policy, long-term investment in climate education, and recognition of young people as key stakeholders in building Pakistan’s climate resilience.
Minhaj Fatima, a member of the Child Protection Forum, emphasized the realization of girls’ right to play under Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. She urged the government to enhance adolescent girls’ participation in sports at school level, noting that sports not only promote physical well-being but also challenge restrictive social norms and empower girls.
Nida Usman called on the Punjab government to expedite the passage of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act, following Islamabad and Sindh’s example of raising the minimum marriage age. She said early and forced marriages deprive girls of education and health, and that raising the marriage age is key to ensuring their empowerment and societal participation.
Rashida Qureshi, Manager Programs at Search for Justice, underscored the urgent need to protect girls in digital spaces amid rising risks of online gender-based violence. She called for investments in safe digital environments, digital literacy, and psychosocial support programs, stressing that empowering girls online is vital for building an equal and just society.
