ISLAMABAD: The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), Justice Project Pakistan, Group Development Pakistan, the Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights and the Legal Aid and Justice Authority collaborated on Friday to host a live screening session of Pakistan’s interactive dialogue with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Organised with the support of the European Union, the session was screened live in the presence of civil society activists, diplomats, lawyers, child rights advocates, academics, policy practitioners and legal aid stakeholders engaged in children’s rights, criminal justice reform and human rights accountability.
By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the screening aimed to foster informed discussion, encourage cross-sector collaboration and strengthen national engagement with the CRC review process.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is the most widely ratified international human rights treaty, providing a comprehensive framework for the protection and promotion of the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of children. Pakistan ratified the CRC in 1990, becoming the fifth country to do so, and is therefore obligated to align its laws, policies and practices with the Convention’s standards.
Under Article 44 of the CRC, states parties are required to submit periodic reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, an independent expert body mandated to assess compliance, engage in constructive dialogue with governments and issue concluding observations with recommendations for reform.
In August 2023, Pakistan submitted its combined sixth and seventh periodic reports, covering the period from June 2016 to June 2021.
Pakistan’s review before the Committee was described as a critical moment, given the country’s large child population and persistent structural challenges affecting children’s rights across multiple sectors, including juvenile justice, education, health, protection from violence and access to legal safeguards.
In light of Pakistan’s international commitments, including under the EU GSP+ regime, meaningful implementation of the CRC remains central to advancing the rule of law, social inclusion and equitable outcomes for children.
According to a statement issued here, the NCHR submitted an independent alternative report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, highlighting key gaps in Pakistan’s protection of child rights.
The submission addressed issues such as early-age marriage, child labour, juvenile justice and barriers to basic services.
The statement said the commission’s work had contributed to legislative inputs on child marriage, child labour, education and juvenile justice, alongside suo motu action in cases of sexual violence, police abuse and unlawful detention of children.
Through prison monitoring and litigation support, the NCHR facilitated the release or acquittal of over 200 juveniles and conducted extensive jail visits nationwide to assess compliance with the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018.
The two-day review began with the first session of Pakistan’s interactive dialogue with the Committee.
During the session, committee members raised several pointed questions to the state, including whether budget allocations for children were child-friendly and adequately prioritised, how Pakistan was ensuring appropriate alternative care for children without parental support, and how effectively the prohibition on the death penalty for children was being implemented in practice.
The committee also questioned access to free legal aid for children in conflict with the law and the use of age-determination procedures.
Led by Minister of State for Law, Justice and Human Rights Barrister Aqeel Malik, Pakistan’s delegation presented the progress made in realising child rights before the UN Committee of 18 independent experts and responded to the questions raised.
In his opening remarks, Barrister Aqeel Malik said Pakistan’s legal framework recognised children as independent rights holders, citing laws such as the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018, which redirected state responses away from retribution towards rehabilitation, diversion and social reintegration.
He noted that the law established a clear legal separation between children in conflict with the law and adult offenders.
Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2026
