By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE: Child protection-focused civil society organization Search for Justice has urged parliamentarians to play an active role in legislative strengthening and oversight of executive functions to ensure all children enjoy their childhood free from violence, abuse, exploitation, harmful practices, and the effects of climate change. This call to action was made during a briefing session jointly organized by the Office of the Parliamentary Secretary for Environment Protection & Climate Change and Search for Justice, a renowned child-focused civil society organization.
Ms. Kanwal Liaqat, Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Protection & Climate Change Department, Punjab, emphasized that climate change poses a growing threat to child protection, increasing children’s exposure to violence, exploitation, and neglect. She highlighted how displacement, economic instability, and weakened protective services make children more vulnerable to trafficking, child labour, and early marriage. Ms. Liaqat called for urgent actions to strengthen child protection systems, develop climate-resilient social services, and integrate child protection into national climate adaptation plans. She also underscored the need to invest in community-based support networks and expand access to education and psychosocial care to safeguard children’s rights in the face of climate challenges.
Iftikhar Mubarik, Executive Director of Search for Justice, briefed parliamentarians on the inadequate legal framework in Punjab to address child marriages, despite the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child recommending that Pakistan raise the minimum marriage age for girls from 16 to 18. He highlighted that Pakistan accepted similar recommendations during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), yet comprehensive legal reforms are still needed to effectively combat child marriage.
Mr. Mubarik emphasized the urgency of addressing child sexual abuse and urged parliamentarians to use their influence to advocate for the approval of a Child Protection Policy, the enactment of the Case Management and Referral System Act, and the allocation of adequate funding to enhance child protection efforts across the province. He also called for the initiation of structured training programs for teachers and caregivers to safeguard children from both offline and online abuse and exploitation.
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Additionally, he drew particular attention to the need for the Punjab Assembly members to prioritize the implementation of the Juvenile Justice System Act (JJSA) 2018 in Punjab. He urged them to expand their parliamentary role in overseeing the effective enforcement of the JJSA 2018.
Rashida Qureshi, Program Manager at Search for Justice and Coordinator for the Children’s Advocacy Network (CAN) Pakistan, highlighted concerns about the lack of administrative action on child protection laws enacted by both the Punjab Assembly and the National Parliament. She particularly emphasized the need for urgent attention to child labour in domestic work, describing it as a modern form of slavery that demands collaborative solutions from diverse stakeholders. Ms. Qureshi also pointed out that corporal punishment in schools remains a critical issue that requires comprehensive legislation. She urged assembly members to press the education department to expedite the enactment of laws to ensure the effective prohibition of corporal punishment and to protect children’s dignity and well-being.
Abeeha Batool, a 16-year-old member of the Child Protection Forum by Search for Justice, briefed parliamentarians on the importance of recognizing children’s right to participation, in line with Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. She emphasized that children, as rights holders and those directly affected by decisions made through laws, policies, and strategies, have the right to share their views, opinions, and proposals to provide valuable insights from a child’s perspective. Abeeha urged the Punjab Assembly to take necessary steps to make it mandatory for children to be consulted in a meaningful and child-friendly manner whenever legislation or policies concerning children’s rights are introduced.
The briefing session was attended by Ms. Kanwal Liaqat (Parliamentary Secretary Environment Protection & Climate Change), Ms. Sonia Ashir (Parliamentary Secretary Human Rights & Minorities Affairs, Ms. Rushda Lodhi (MPA), Ms. Uzma Kardar (MPA), Ms. Mumtaz Begum (MPA), Ms. Sunbal Malik Hussain (MPA), Ms, Sardar Begum (MPA), Ms. Ambreen Ismail (MPA), Ms. Bibi Waderi (MPA) Dr. Ayesha Javed (MPA) and Ms. Rukhsana Kokab (MPA).
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