ISLAMABAD (The Tribune International) – The National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) and Protection and Help of Children Against Abuse and Neglect (PAHCHAAN) have stressed the need for strengthening Pakistan’s child protection laws, improving implementation of existing laws and ensuring greater coordination among institutions responsible for child protection.
The organisations jointly organised a consultation titled “Gaps and Opportunities in Pakistan’s Legislative Landscape for Children” at the NCRC office in Islamabad, along with the launch of the fifth edition of the publication “The Rights of Children in Pakistani Law.”
The consultation brought together legal experts, child rights advocates, researchers, practitioners and representatives of relevant institutions to review challenges in Pakistan’s child-related legislation and identify opportunities for improving legal protections.
Discussions focused on gaps in existing laws, difficulties in implementation, inconsistencies among federal and provincial legal frameworks and measures required to ensure that children have effective access to protection and justice.
Addressing the consultation, NCRC Chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq highlighted the importance of accessible legal resources for institutions and professionals working for child welfare.
She said the publication would serve as an important reference for courts, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations and researchers involved in protecting children’s rights.
“The true measure of child-related laws is not only their enactment but also their effective implementation and ability to address the realities faced by children,” she said.
She added that NCRC’s mandate includes reviewing laws, policies and practices related to children, investigating violations of child rights, strengthening institutional capacity and advising the government on legislative and policy reforms.
Need to bridge gap between law and practice
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Naeem Zafar, President and CEO of PAHCHAAN, said legal protections can only benefit children when families, caregivers, professionals and institutions understand how to use them.
“During our work, we repeatedly reached a point where counselling, compassion and referral were not enough. We needed to know: What right does this child have? Who has the legal responsibility to act? What remedy is available?” he said.
Dr Zafar stressed that laws alone cannot protect children unless they are supported by public awareness, accessible legal assistance, effective referral systems and timely institutional responses.
Review of child rights legislation
During the consultation, Dr Mehek Naeem, Miqdad Mehdi and Ahmar Majeed presented key findings and reflections from the fifth edition of The Rights of Children in Pakistani Law.
The publication compiles relevant federal and provincial legislation related to children and examines these laws in the context of Pakistan’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Participants noted that while Pakistan has introduced several laws for child protection, challenges remain in ensuring uniform implementation across different jurisdictions.
The consultation highlighted the need for greater clarity in legal responsibilities, improved enforcement mechanisms and stronger monitoring systems to reduce the gap between legislation and children’s actual experiences.
Calls for stronger coordination and resources
The participants emphasised the importance of better coordination among courts, law enforcement agencies, child protection institutions and civil society organisations.
Key recommendations included:
- Harmonisation of the age definition of children across different laws.
- Timely drafting and approval of rules under child protection legislation.
- Increased allocation of resources for child protection institutions.
- Capacity building of frontline professionals.
- Development of effective referral networks.
- Regular monitoring of the implementation of child rights laws.
Experts also stressed that legal reforms must be accompanied by institutional strengthening to ensure that children receive timely protection and justice.
Fifth edition of child rights publication launched
The event concluded with the formal launch of the fifth edition of “The Rights of Children in Pakistani Law.”
The publication will serve as a reference resource for legal reviews, professional training, institutional decision-making, research and advocacy efforts aimed at improving child protection mechanisms in Pakistan.
About NCRC
The National Commission on the Rights of Child is an independent statutory body established under the NCRC Act, 2017, with the mandate to promote, protect and fulfil children’s rights in Pakistan.
About PAHCHAAN
Protection and Help of Children Against Abuse and Neglect (PAHCHAAN) is a child rights organisation working to strengthen child protection, safeguarding systems, access to justice and child and family wellbeing in Pakistan.
