The NCRC convened the fifth meeting of its Working Group of Minorities on Child Rights to review ongoing efforts and set strategic priorities for the protection and promotion of minority children across Pakistan. Participants assessed recent field-level interventions and identified gaps in policy implementation that affect children from minority religions.
Chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq presented a comprehensive overview of the Commission’s quarterly progress, highlighting initiatives in policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement and targeted field work for minority children. The presentation outlined concrete steps taken to strengthen monitoring, support services and outreach in vulnerable communities.
A major feature of the session was the presentation of the Situation Analysis on Children from Minority Religions in Pakistan, which offers evidence on the unique challenges faced by minority children and serves as a basis for targeted, evidence-based policy making. Members discussed how the report’s findings can guide legislative proposals and program design to better protect these children.
The working group also reviewed a draft bill addressing forced conversion and debated measures to prevent forced marriages. The NCRC reaffirmed its commitment to tackle forced conversions and forced marriages through collaborative strategies, legislative advocacy and public awareness campaigns, and signaled ongoing engagement with stakeholders to translate policy into action.
