ISLAMABAD: The National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) and Protection and Help of Children Against Abuse and Neglect (PAHCHAAN) on Friday held a consultation on “Gaps and Opportunities in Pakistan’s Legislative Landscape for Children” and launched the fifth edition of the publication The Rights of Children in Pakistani Law.
The consultation brought together legal experts, practitioners, researchers and child-rights advocates to examine gaps in existing legislation, challenges in implementing legal protections and opportunities to strengthen Pakistan’s legal framework for children.
Opening the consultation, NCRC Chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq stressed the importance of accessible legal resources for institutions and professionals responsible for protecting children. She said the publication would serve as a valuable reference for courts, law-enforcement agencies, civil society organisations and researchers.
She emphasised that the effectiveness of child-related legislation should be measured not only by its enactment but also by its implementation and its ability to address the realities faced by children.
Ayesha Raza Farooq noted that NCRC’s statutory mandate includes reviewing laws, policies and practices, conducting inquiries into violations of children’s rights, strengthening institutional capacities and advising the government on legislative and policy matters concerning children.
In his remarks titled “Where the Law Meets the Child,” PAHCHAAN President and CEO Dr Naeem Zafar highlighted the difficulties faced by families, professionals and organisations when legal protections are difficult to locate, understand or apply.
He said that in many cases counselling, compassion and referrals were not enough, and stakeholders needed clear answers about a child’s legal rights, who was responsible for taking action and what remedies were available.
Dr Naeem Zafar stressed that laws can protect children only when caregivers, professionals and institutions are able to understand and use them. He called for greater awareness, accessible assistance, effective referral mechanisms and timely institutional responses.
Dr Mehek Naeem, Miqdad Mehdi and Ahmar Majeed presented key findings from the fifth edition of The Rights of Children in Pakistani Law. The publication consolidates relevant federal and provincial legislation and examines it in the context of Pakistan’s commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Participants stressed the need for stronger coordination among courts, law-enforcement agencies, child-protection institutions and civil society. They also called for harmonisation of age-related provisions, timely approval of rules, adequate resources, capacity building for frontline professionals, effective referral networks and continuous monitoring of the gap between legislation and children’s lived realities.
The event concluded with the formal launch of the fifth edition, which will serve as a reference for legal review, professional training, research, institutional action and advocacy.
