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Child Rights File 02
Prepared by:
Muhammad Naseer Khan
Subject Specialist English
E&SE Dept. Govt of AJ&K
Whatsap +92322-9310761
Child Rights File: 02
Brief Summary of Child Protection Legislation and initiatives in Pakistan
The National Commission on the Rights of the Child Act, 2015
The National Commission on the Rights of the Child Act, 2015 is a
comprehensive legislation for the protection of children in Pakistan
The key features of this Act are as follows.
Child Protection Officers: The Act authorizes the appointment of
Child Protection Officers to exercise emergency powers in cases
where a child is in need of care and protection.
Child in need of care and protection: The Act defines a child in need
of care and protection as one who is without parental care, or
whose parents are unfit or unable to care for him, or who is a victim
of abuse or exploitation.
National Commission for Child Welfare and Development (NCCWD)
In 1979, National Commission for Child Welfare and Development
(NCCWD) was established by the government of Pakistan. Having
functioned under different governing bodies, it is now housed
under the Ministry of Human Rights.
The NCCWD has the responsibility of monitoring and evaluating that
children are receiving their constitutional, legal and administrative
rights. It also suggests amendments to the constitution and national
laws and formulates national policies & legislations for child
welfare, development and protection.
The Juvenile Justice System Act, 2018
The Juvenile Justice System Act, 2018 is a legislation in Pakistan that
aims to protect the rights of children in conflict with the law and
provide a framework for their rehabilitation and reintegration into
society. The key features of this Act are:
Definition of a child: A child is defined as a person who has not
attained the age of 18 years.
Juvenile Justice System: The Act establishes a separate justice
system for children, which includes Juvenile Courts, Juvenile Justice
Committees, and Child Protection Units.
Offenses: The Act categorizes offenses into three categories: serious
offenses, lesser offenses, and petty offenses.
Bail and custody: The Act provides for the release of a child on bail
and specifies that a child shall not be detained in a police station or
prison.
Trial: The Act provides for a separate trial process for children,
which includes the presence of a parent or guardian, and the use of
simple language.
Sentencing: The Act provides for alternative sentencing options,
such as community service, counseling, and rehabilitation
programs.
Rehabilitation: The Act emphasizes the importance of rehabilitation
and reintegration of children into society.
Child-friendly procedures: The Act requires that all procedures be
child-friendly and that the child's best interests be considered at all
stages.
Training and capacity building: The Act requires training and
capacity building for all officials involved in the juvenile justice
system.
Overall, the Juvenile Justice System Act, 2018 aims to provide a
child-friendly and rehabilitative approach to dealing with children in
conflict with the law in Pakistan.
The Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Act, 2020
The Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Act, 2020 is a legislation in
Pakistan that aims to prevent and respond to cases of child abuse
and kidnapping. The Act was passed in response to the high-profile
case of Zainab Ansari, a 7-year-old girl who was abducted, raped,
and murdered in 2018.
Key features of the Act include:
Establishment of a National Reporting System for missing children
Creation of a Zainab Alert System for quick response to reports of
missing children
Formation of a National Commission for Children to oversee
implementation of the Act
Increased penalties for child abductors and traffickers, including life
imprisonment and death penalty
Establishment of special courts for speedy trial of child abuse cases
Protection of victims' identity and privacy
Provision for counseling and rehabilitation services for victims and
their families
Increased coordination and cooperation among law enforcement
agencies and other stakeholders
The Act aims to strengthen the country's response to child abuse
and kidnapping cases, and to ensure justice and support for victims
and their families.
The Punjab Destitute and Neglected Children Act, 2004
The Punjab Destitute and Neglected Children Act, 2004 is a
legislation in Pakistan that aims to protect and provide care for
destitute and neglected children in the province of Punjab. The Act
defines a destitute child as one who has no parents or guardian, or
has been abandoned, and a neglected child as one who is not
receiving proper care and attention from their parents or guardian
Islamabad Capital Territory Child Protection Act was indeed passed in
2018.
Islamabad Capital Territory Child Protection Act was indeed passed
in 2018. This Act aims to protect children in the Islamabad Capital
Territory from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Some key features
of the Act include:
Establishment of a Child Protection System
Definition of child abuse and neglect
Procedures for reporting and investigating child abuse cases
Establishment of Child Protection Courts
Provision for counseling and rehabilitation services for victims
Measures for prevention of child abuse and neglect
Penalties for child abuse and neglect
The Act aims to ensure the safety and well-being of children in the
Islamabad Capital Territory and provide a framework for their
protection and care.
Child Labour Laws and Initiatives in Pakistan
Article 11(3):
No child below the age of 14 years shall be engaged in any factory
or mine or any other hazardous employment.
Article 37(e):
The state shall make provision for securing just and humane
conditions of work, ensuring that women and children are not
employed in vocations unsuited to their age or sex, and for
maternity benefits for women in employment.
The Employment of Children Act, 1991
The Employment of Children Act, 1991 is a legislation in Pakistan
that regulates the employment of children. The key features of this
Act are:
Prohibition of employment of children in certain occupations: The
Act prohibits the employment of children in hazardous occupations
such as mining, manufacturing, and construction.
Age limit: The Act sets the minimum age for employment at 14
years, except for certain exempted occupations.
Permitted employment: Children between 14 and 18 years can be
employed in certain occupations such as retail trade, hotels, and
restaurants, but with certain conditions.
Working hours: The Act regulates the working hours of children,
limiting them to 3 hours a day and 18 hours a week.
Prohibition of night work: Children are not allowed to work
between 7 pm and 6 am.
Penalties: The Act prescribes penalties for violating its provisions,
including fines and imprisonment.
Exemptions: The Act exempts certain occupations such as
agriculture, family businesses, and technical training institutions.
The Employment of Children Act, 1991 aims to protect children
from exploitation and ensure their physical, mental, and social well-
being. However, despite this legislation, child labor remains a
significant issue in Pakistan, and efforts are needed to enforce the
law and address the root causes of child labor.
Child Protection Organizations In Pakistan
UNICEF Pakistan
UNICEF Pakistan has been supporting the rights of children in Pakistan
since 1948. Their work includes
Survival and health: Every child survives and thrives, is in good
health, immunized, protected from polio, and accesses nutritious
food.
Education: Every child learns and has access to quality education
and learning in a safe environment.
Protection: Every child is protected from violence and exploitation
and registered at birth.
Safe and clean environment: Every child lives in a safe and clean
environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate
sanitation.
Nutrition: Meeting the nutritional requirements of children to
ensure they develop to their full potential.
Healthcare: Giving every child a healthy start and basic healthcare
along the way for a fulfilling life.
Eradicating polio: Eradicating polio from Pakistan by reaching every
child with the needed vaccine
Reducing natural hazards: Reducing the impact of natural hazards
and human induced risks.
Save the Children International (SCI) Pakistan
Save the Children International (SCI) is one of the leading
development organizations working in around 120 countries for
children on a global scale.
Save the Children started working in Pakistan in 1979 and has
undertaken sustainable and high-impact envelopment
/humanitarian projects for the vulnerable population.
In Pakistan, 8% of children die before they're five - the second
highest rate in Asia after Afghanistan.
Save the Children is also working to protect children who are at risk
of violence, abuse, exploitation or neglect, and is pushing for policy
change and helping to develop national child protection structures,
and is helping communities to develop ways to keep their children
safe.
The National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC)
The National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) is a statutory
body established in Pakistan in 2017 to protect and promote the rights
of children. Its key objectives are:
To promote and protect the rights of children as enshrined in the
Constitution of Pakistan and international conventions.
To investigate and inquire into complaints relating to violation of
children's rights.
To recommend measures for the prevention of child rights
violations.
To monitor the implementation of laws and policies related to
children's rights.
To raise awareness about children's rights and promote child-
friendly policies and practices.
The NCRC has the power to:
Conduct inquiries and investigations into child rights violations.
Summon individuals or organizations to provide information or
evidence.
Recommend legal action against those who violate children's rights.
Develop guidelines and standards for the protection of children's
rights.
Collaborate with international organizations and NGOs working on
child rights.
The NCRC is a crucial institution for ensuring that children in
Pakistan are protected from abuse, exploitation, and neglect, and
that their rights are respected and fulfilled.
Sahil Pakistan NGO
Sahil is a Pakistani non-governmental organization (NGO) that
works to protect children from child abuse, particularly sexual
abuse. Sahil was established in 1996 and is headquartered in
Lahore, with offices in Islamabad, Karachi, and Peshawar.
Sahil's mission is to "create a safe and protective environment for
children, free from all forms of exploitation, abuse, and violence."
More Important Points on Child Rights in Pakistan
In Pakistan, the legal age for marriage was 18 for males and 16 for
females (Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 and Muslim Family
Laws Ordinance, 1961
The Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill, 2018 aims to ban
marriages before the age of 18. It will also clear the confusion about
the definition and age of a child, which will also be 18 years, for the
purposes of rights and obligations.
Which international organization is working for the development
and protection of child rights?
Answer is: UNICEF
Which was the first declaration of the rights of children?
Answer: Geneva Declaration of the Rights of Child, 1924
What is the abbreviation of UNICEF
Answer; United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund
Pakistan was the __________country to ratify and sign UNCRC
Answer: 6th
Pakistan ratified and signed UNCRC in the year:
Answer: 1990
World children day is observed on:
Answer: 20 November
The nation that has not signed the UNCRC is:
USA
Right to join army even if you’re under age 15 is not the right under
UNCRC
Constitutional Provisions in Pakistan
Article 11: Ensures the right to life, liberty, and security of person.
Article 24: Prohibits the employment of children in hazardous
occupations.
Article 25 A: Ensures the right to education.
Article 35: Ensures the protection of children from exploitation and
abuse.
Article 40: "The State shall provide special protection to children
who are vulnerable, disadvantaged or disabled."
Both the constitution and labor law of Pakistan prohibits the
employment of children before the age of
Answer: 14 years.
The state shall provide the compulsory and free education to all
children of the age of five to sixteen years in such a manner as
determined by law is said in the:
Answer: article 25 A of the constitution of Pakistan
Pakistan signed the South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC) Convention on Preventing and Combating
Trafficking in Women and Children in________
Answer: 2002.
Pakistan has a recent national child protection policy ________to
prevent child abuse and neglect.
Answer: (2018)
The earliest Pakistan Children Act_________ provides for the care
and protection of neglected and abandoned children.
Answer: 1958
Pakistan has a helpline __________for reporting child abuse cases.
Answer: (1098)
The National Action Plan 2013 Pakistan to Prevent Child Sexual
Abuse is a comprehensive plan developed by the Ministry of Human
Rights, Government of Pakistan, in collaboration with
__________and other stakeholders. The plan aims to prevent child
sexual abuse, protect victims, and prosecute offenders.
Answer: UNICEF
Juvenile Justice System Ordinance___________: Establishes a
separate justice system for children in conflict with the law.
Answer: 2000
Age of Criminal Responsibility: ________years (though efforts are
being made to raise it to 14 or 16).
Answer: 12 years
Which of the following is a right ensured by the UNCRC?
a) Right to vote
b) Right to marry
c) Right to freedom of movement
d) Right to protection from discrimination
Answer: d) Right to protection from discrimination
Which of the following is a right in UNCRC?
a) Right to vote
b) Right to freedom of expression
c) Right to marry
d) Right to drive
Answer: b) Right to freedom of expression
Which of the following is a right in UNCRC?
a) Right to education
b) Right to social media
c) Right to assemble
d) Right to retirement
Answer: a) Right to education
Which of the following is a right in UNCRC?
a) Right to protection from discrimination
b) Right to protection from abuse
c) Right to protection from neglect
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Which of the following is a right in UNCRC?
a) Right to freedom of information
b) Right to freedom of expression
c) Right to freedom of assembly
d) Right to freedom of association
Answer: b) Right to freedom of expression
The End
