Pakistan is home to over 112 million children, nearly half of its population, yet millions continue to face severe challenges, as highlighted in the State of Children in Pakistan 2024 report by the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC). The report reveals that over 26 million children aged between 05 to16 are out of school. One in two children under five suffers from malnutrition, and only 14.2% of children aged between 06 to 23 months receive a minimally adequate diet.
Child protection indicators paint an equally unpleasant picture; violent discipline is widespread, child marriage remains prevalent, and adolescents, particularly those aged between 16 and 17, face a heightened risk of sexual violence. Street children endure exploitation, abuse, and drug use, while child labour remains entrenched in sectors like agriculture, forestry, and fishing, particularly in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Pakistan ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1990, committing to protect and promote the rights of children. But more than three decades later, those promises remain only partially fulfilled. On 13th and 14th May 2025, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child will review Pakistan’s progress since its last assessment in 2016.
The Government of Pakistan has submitted its state report highlighting positive developments and implementation measures. The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) and several civil society organizations have submitted alternative reports that offer a more critical assessment. Strengthening NCRC in line with the Paris Principles is a key issue identified by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. In its reply, the Government maintains that special measures are in place to ensure the Commission’s independence and effectiveness without providing details.
The establishment of the NCRC in 2020 was a welcome development. The Commission was expected to play a vital role in fulfilling Pakistan’s CRC obligations. However, it remains legally and structurally weak. As Pakistan is undergoing its periodic review, urgent reform of the NCRC should be the priority.
When a country ratifies an international treaty, it pledges to take all legal, administrative, and financial measures necessary to implement it. Pakistan, being a dualistic state, requires domestic legislation to realize its international commitments. Since ratification of the CRC, Pakistan has taken several positive measures. However, the road to fully realizing child rights remains long and challenging.
The NCRC is the only national state body exclusively mandated to protect and promote children’s rights. However, the founding law of NCRC falls short of global standards. It lacks institutional autonomy, a transparent appointment process involving civil society, enforcement powers, and legal and financial independence. These deficits have weakened its authority and effectiveness.
The Paris Principles, adopted by the UN General Assembly, provide the global standards for the structure and functioning of national human rights institutions (NHRIs). They emphasize independence, pluralism, broad mandates, investigative powers, and the ability to advise government, monitor legislation, engage with international human rights mechanisms, and promote human rights. Pakistan’s NCHR meets these standards and is accredited by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI); however, the NCRC does not.
This raises an important question: Should thematic institutions like the NCRC also meet these standards? The answer lies in the vulnerability of children themselves. Children lack the voice and agency to claim their rights and often face barriers in accessing justice. A dedicated national institution focused on their needs is essential to ensure their rights are not overshadowed in the broader human rights discourse.
In recognition of this, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child issued General Comment No. 2 in 2002. It stressed that every country should establish an independent institution specifically for children, guided by the Paris Principles but tailored to children’s unique context. Such institutions must be accessible, child-friendly, adequately resourced, and empowered to monitor implementation, investigate violations, handle complaints, and conduct rights education.
To align with these standards, Pakistan must amend the NCRC Act 2017 to ensure legal and financial independence, a transparent and inclusive appointment process, and clear powers for investigations, including suo motu action. The Commission should have the authority to intervene in court proceedings involving children, visit detention centres, and receive legal protection and indemnity for its members and staff. Provisions like Section 20, which gives the federal government power to issue binding directives, must be revised or repealed.
The NCRC may be performing some of these functions in practice, but the lack of an explicit legal mandate undermines its credibility and long-term sustainability. Reforming the NCRC founding law is an international obligation under Article 4 of the CRC, General Comment No. 2, and the European Union’s GSP+ commitments.
Despite these limitations, the NCRC has made meaningful progress. It has increased visibility of child rights issues, documented violations, promoted child rights, and engaged with key stakeholders. But without legal empowerment and institutional reform, it cannot fulfil its mandate as a truly independent and effective watchdog.
Pakistan is preparing for its upcoming review before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child this month. Strengthening the NCRC should be a state’s commitment. Reforming this institution will not only improve Pakistan’s standing in the international community but, more importantly, help protect and uplift the lives of millions of children who continue to be left behind.
