Pakistan Reports Legislative and Policy Gains on Child Rights to UN Panel

Pakistan has presented wide-ranging progress on child rights during the review of its combined sixth and seventh periodic reports before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva, reaffirming its commitment to international obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.

The review marked Pakistan’s first comprehensive assessment since 2016 and focused on legislative, policy, and institutional reforms introduced over the past decade to strengthen child protection frameworks across the country.

The Pakistani delegation was led by Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law and Justice, and included Secretary Ministry of Human Rights Abdul Khalique Shaikh, Chairperson Punjab Child Protection and Welfare Bureau Sara Ahmed, and Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Bilal Ahmad.

Officials highlighted major legislative developments at federal and provincial levels, including new child marriage restraint laws setting the minimum age of marriage at 18 for both boys and girls. These include the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2025, and the Balochistan Child Marriages Restraint Act, 2025, aimed at harmonising age-of-marriage standards nationwide and strengthening penalties.

The delegation also pointed to laws criminalising online child sexual abuse and cyberbullying, expanded protections in trafficking cases, enhanced juvenile justice safeguards, and statutory maternity and paternity leave provisions. The Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Act was cited as a cornerstone in efforts to prevent and respond to child abductions and exploitation.

Responding to questions from committee members, Barrister Aqeel Malik briefed the panel on the implementation of the Juvenile Justice System Act, 2018, noting that a National Coordination Committee is finalising rules to ensure uniform application across provinces and stronger safeguards for children in conflict with the law.

Policy initiatives such as the ZARRA mobile application were highlighted as tools to modernise reporting and monitoring of child abuse and neglect. Sara Ahmed emphasised a zero-tolerance approach toward abuse, particularly for vulnerable children, and outlined provincial-level protection mechanisms.

The delegation also outlined social protection and access-to-justice measures, including free legal aid for children through the Legal Aid and Justice Authority and nutrition interventions under the Benazir Nashounuma Programme to combat malnutrition and stunting. The government reiterated its declaration of a national education emergency in 2024 to address out-of-school children and learning gaps.

Abdul Khalique Shaikh detailed efforts to strengthen institutional coordination among national human rights bodies, including the National Commission on the Rights of the Child, and highlighted the National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow-up to support evidence-based policymaking. He said child-focused budget allocations had increased, citing a 25 percent rise in Punjab and similar trends in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

While acknowledging progress, the government recognised persistent challenges such as poverty, insecurity, terrorism, and climate-related disasters that continue to affect children. Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to sustained reforms, constructive engagement with UN mechanisms, and continued efforts to protect the dignity, safety, and well-being of children nationwide.