Federal Minister for Human Rights Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar urged a united approach to promote child rights during an event hosted by the National Commission on the Rights of the Child in Islamabad to mark World Children’s Day 2025.
Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar said that protecting children requires sustained political will and cooperation across government, institutions, civil society and families, and he highlighted Pakistan’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as the foundation for these efforts.
Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law and Justice, outlined recent steps taken to strengthen child protection systems, citing improvements in birth registration, the operational District Child Protection Units, the national Child Protection Information Management System, and a 24/7 helpline that together aim to make child rights more accessible and enforceable across provinces.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, Chairperson of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child, emphasized the role of children’s voices in shaping policy and noted the impact of the Child Advisory Panel in bringing lived experiences into national decision making. She urged institutions and communities to place children at the centre of priorities so that every child can grow with dignity and opportunity.
Pernille Ironside, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, called attention to persistent gaps in nutrition, safety and learning opportunities and stressed that international and national partners must listen to children and act to ensure a hopeful future for all.
The speakers also acknowledged ongoing challenges including barriers to education, health, nutrition and legal identity, as well as the need for continued efforts on child labour surveys and measures addressing child marriage. They underlined that advancing child rights depends on strong institutional collaboration and active community involvement to turn policy into real protection and services at the local level.
World Children’s Day 2025 in Islamabad reaffirmed a shared commitment to strengthen systems that protect children, expand access to essential services and ensure that every child in Pakistan has the opportunity to grow, learn and thrive.
