CAN Pakistan (Children Advocacy Network)

Civil Society platform for collective actions to end violence against children. #ChildProtection #AllForChildren #EndViolence #ChildParticipation

[UNDP Pakistan @UNDP_Pakistan]

Strengthening child rights governance requires stronger coordination, accountability, and implementation mechanisms at the provincial level.

Under the @EUPakistan 🇪🇺 funded #HuqooqePakistanII project, #UNDPinPakistan partnered with @sfjpk to host a provincial briefing on the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s Concluding Observations to Pakistan at the Shaista Ikramullah Human Rights Education Centre in Lahore. Bringing together CSOs, academia, statutory bodies and government partners, the briefing aimed to support dialogue on implementation challenges, strengthen coordination pathways, and identify practical entry points for advancing #ChildRights protection in Punjab.

[Iftikhar Mubarik @IftikharMubarik]

🛡️Protecting children requires more than policy commitments. It requires dedicated budget allocations.

🏛️ Federal and provincial governments should introduce dedicated budget lines for child protection, case management, referral systems, and inter-agency coordination.

⚖️ Without sustained financing, even strong protection frameworks fail at implementation.

📚 Investing in children is an investment in human development, social stability, and Pakistan’s future.
#ChildProtection #Budget2026 #ChildRights #PublicPolicy #Pakistan
@dpr_gob @GovernmentKP @GovtofPunjabPK @GovtofPakistan @CMShehbaz @MaryamNSharif @MuradAliShahPPP @PakSarfrazbugti @KPChiefMinister @CS_Punjab @nchrofficial @NCRC_Pakistan @mohrpakistan

[Search For Justice @SFJPK]

Better awareness and stronger engagement of civil society and human rights defenders can improve the effectiveness of human rights institutions. A workshop in Lahore called for a Campus-Based Human Rights Ambassador Programme to strengthen youth engagement. #HumanRights

[Search For Justice @SFJPK]

On #InternationalWomensDay, Search for Justice reaffirms that protecting the rights of women and girls is central to building just and inclusive societies. Ending violence, expanding opportunities, and ensuring equal participation must remain a national priority. #IWD2026

[Iftikhar Mubarik @IftikharMubarik]

Pakistan has strengthened laws and institutions for children over the years, yet many concerns continue to repeat across UN review cycles.
In my latest op-ed in The News on Sunday, I argue that the real challenge is no longer commitment, but implementation — building systems that ensure coordination, monitoring, and sustained follow-through across federal and provincial levels.
Child rights implementation is ultimately a public policy and governance challenge.
Read here:
https://t.co/QSbHzg6ex8
#ChildRights #Pakistan #Governance #CRC
@UNICEF_Pakistan @mohrpakistan @AzamNazeerTarar @EUPakistan @AusHCPak @NorwayinPak @SwedenAmbPK @SwissAmbPak @GermanyinPAK @anjamyrtveit @BrAqeelMalik @AyeshaRaza13 @RabiyaJaveri @nchrofficial @kpcpwc @SindhChild @bohotsaara @SarahAhmad_CPWB @dpr_gob @ChildRightsCnct @UNChildRights1 @ArigatouGNRC

[Search For Justice @SFJPK]

Search for Justice welcomes the notification of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026, establishing 18 years as the minimum legal age of marriage for both girls and boys.

Child marriage is now a cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable offence in Punjab.

An important legislative step — effective implementation will be key.

#ChildRights #EndChildMarriage #Punjab #ChildProtection
@UNICEF_Pakistan @CRCAsia @UNChildRights1 @WomenDeliver @Malala @MalalaFundPK @JaneMarriottUK

[Iftikhar Mubarik @IftikharMubarik]

Punjab has notified the Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026, establishing 18 years as the minimum legal age of marriage for both girls and boys.

The law declares child marriage a cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable offence, with enhanced penalties and provisions addressing child abuse and trafficking linked to child marriage.

An important step. Implementation will be key.
#ChildRights #EndChildMarriage #Punjab
@GovtofPunjabPK @SarahAhmad_CPWB @AyeshaRaza13 @NCRC_Pakistan @nchrofficial @MaryamNSharif @RabiyaJaveri @NCSWPakistan

[Iftikhar Mubarik @IftikharMubarik]

In my op-ed, Protecting Children Online Without Excluding Them, I argue that children’s online safety is a child protection obligation — not a ban-first response.
Children face real online harms, but blanket bans risk pushing them into unregulated spaces while shifting responsibility away from platforms and governments.
What’s needed is regulation, platform accountability, privacy-by-design, and child-centred digital safety frameworks — not exclusion. https://t.co/ZxaOqd525I
#ChildRights #OnlineSafety #DigitalRights #ChildProtection #Pakistan
@NCRC_Pakistan @AyeshaRaza13 @cpwbpunjab
@WeProtect @IWFhotline @ShSenGupta @SarahAhmad_CPWB @kpcpwc @SindhChild @mohrpakistan @AzamNazeerTarar @nchrofficial @EUPakistan

[Iftikhar Mubarik @IftikharMubarik]

My latest op-ed in The Friday Times, “Invisible Children, Inconvenient Truths,” examines the sexual exploitation of children in street situations in light of the UN Special Rapporteur’s report and broader accountability challenges within child protection systems.

I hope it contributes to ongoing reflection on how commitments can translate into real protection for the most marginalised children.

🔗 https://t.co/GOZL6l6BFi

#ChildRights #UNCRC #HumanRights #Accountability
@MamaFatimaS @streetchildren @ArigatouGNRC @UNICEF_Pakistan @NCRC_Pakistan @cpwbpunjab @kpcpwc @SindhChild @dpr_gob @dureakram @anjamyrtveit @ChildRightsCnct @UNChildRights1 @UN_EndViolence @SRakotomalala

[Search For Justice @SFJPK]

Another case of sexual abuse against a child domestic worker has been reported via @etribune .
https://t.co/3A250MWMTJ
This once again shows how child domestic labour, hidden behind closed doors, leaves children vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
We urge strict prosecution, survivor-centred support, and decisive action to end child domestic labour in Pakistan.
#EndChildDomesticLabour #ChildProtection #JusticeForChildren
@NCRC_Pakistan @cpwbpunjab @mohrpakistan @GovtofPunjabPK

[Search For Justice @SFJPK]

Search for Justice expresses deep concern over the incidents of child abuse reported from Sahiwal via @dawn_com.
Since arrests have been made, we urge the Chief Minister Punjab and relevant child rights and protection bodies to ensure effective prosecution under the law, along with regular follow-up and monitoring of the cases, and to provide survivors with immediate, trauma-informed protection and support services, with full respect for dignity and confidentiality.
https://t.co/KKDqhJvssz
#ChildProtection #EndViolenceAgainstChildren #Punjab #Pakistan
@MaryamNSharif @cpwbpunjab @SarahAhmad_CPWB @NCRC_Pakistan @AyeshaRaza13 @OfficialDPRPP @RpoSahiwal @IftikharMubarik

[Iftikhar Mubarik @IftikharMubarik]

Within human rights priorities, protecting children from violence, abuse, and exploitation must be treated as a funding and governance priority — not a cross-cutting afterthought.
Donors, foundations, international partners, and governments must invest in child protection so global commitments translate into real protection for children.
Read my Op-Ed in The Friday Times: @TFT_
https://t.co/2vlCEiDQSt
@UNICEF_Pakistan @PernilleMHarder @AzamNazeerTarar @Miqdadnaqvi @FriehaAltaf @EUPakistan @SwedeninPK @NorwayinPak @NLinPakistan @GermanyinPAK @BelgiumISB @FranceinPak @usembislamabad @USCGLahore @ukinpakistan @JaneMarriottUK @AusHCPak @PLinPakistan @irlembpakistan @AustriaInPAK @CZinPK @Mahnurqureshi

[Iftikhar Mubarik @IftikharMubarik]

Appeared on @PublicNews_Com to discuss rising cases of child sexual abuse — and the critical gaps in our protection and response systems.
We must strengthen governance through a child-protection lens, so institutions, laws, and services work together to prevent abuse and protect children in practice.
#ChildProtection #EndChildAbuse #Pakistan
@NCRC_Pakistan @cpwbpunjab @SindhChild @kpcpwc @FriehaAltaf @NJLahori @Sahil_NGO @MalikMAhmadKhan @USCGLahore @kishwarenam @Miqdadnaqvi @AzamNazeerTarar @BeBraveGlobal @anjamyrtveit @AUKhanOfficial1 @Mahnurqureshi @dawn_com @etribune @TheNewsonSunday @AroosaShaukat @UNICEF_Pakistan

[Iftikhar Mubarik @IftikharMubarik]

Important judgment from the Lahore High Court reported by @dawn_com. Workplace harassment is determined by misuse of supervisory authority and its link to official work — not the physical location. The Court clarified (Section 2(n), 2010 Act) that situations connected to official duties remain “workplace” contexts even outside office premises — strengthening survivor protection and accountability.
#SafeWorkplaces #GenderJustice #Accountability
https://t.co/8sZ5zojoBY
@wajihsheikh @SarahAhmad_CPWB @SFJPK @RashadaQureshi @Miqdadnaqvi @WaizaRafique @NCSWPakistan @pcswpb @jamshedmkazi @anjamyrtveit @fospah @fauziaviqar

[Search For Justice @SFJPK]

Human Rights Day 2025 offers an opportunity to reaffirm our collective commitment to strengthening institutions, improving coordination, and ensuring that every person’s rights are respected and upheld. Progress is possible when all stakeholders work together.
#HumanRightsDay #HumanRights #Collaboration #GoodGovernance #ChildRights
@mohrpakistan @GovtofPunjabPK @GovernmentKP @dpr_gob @SindhGovtPk @GovtofPakistan

[Iftikhar Mubarik @IftikharMubarik]

Human Rights Day reminds us that rights are not the responsibility of any single department or ministry. They must be a national priority, reflected across all tiers of government and its functionaries. Strong institutions, an active civil society, and inclusive decision-making are essential for upholding the rights and dignity of all.
#HumanRightsDay #HumanRights #CivilSociety #RightsMatter
@mohrpakistan @AzamNazeerTarar @nchrofficial @NCRC_Pakistan @EUPakistan @NAofPakistan @SenatePakistan @UNDP_Pakistan @UNinPak @ncswpk @imasifmehmood @dawn_com @etribune @FriehaAltaf

[Search For Justice @SFJPK]

During the #WorldChildrensDay2025 commemoration, members of our Child Protection Forums didn’t just highlight the issues affecting them — they laid out the actions needed to fix them.
Read the full media coverage 👇
https://t.co/VjG4z7lqpA
@UNICEF_Pakistan @GovtofPunjabPK @GovtofPakistan @Marriyum_A @MaryamNSharif @CMShehbaz @AzamNazeerTarar

[Search For Justice @SFJPK]

Another meaningful World Children’s Day 2025 commemoration, where our team engaged children in powerful conversations on their rights, safety, wellbeing, and the challenges they face in daily life.
Children know exactly what needs to change — we just need to listen.
#WorldChildrensDay2025 #MyDayMyRights #ProtectChildren
@UNICEF_Pakistan @UNDP_Pakistan @AusHCPak @ArigatouGNRC @NorwayinPak @EUPakistan @GermanyinPAK @USCGLahore

[Iftikhar Mubarik @IftikharMubarik]

A powerful World Children’s Day event hosted by @SFJPK where children took the lead — speaking about their rights, protection, education, wellbeing, and child-centred climate justice.
Today’s conversations made one thing clear: policy decisions only make sense when they start with children’s rights.
#WorldChildrensDay #MyDayMyRights #ChildRights #ProtectChildren #ForEveryChild
@city42 @Dawn_News @etribune @dawn_com @NCRC_Pakistan @AyeshaRaza13 @SarahAhmad_CPWB @anjamyrtveit @UNICEF_Pakistan @EUPakistan @AusHCPak @CanHCPakistan @USCGLahore @RanaSikandarH @s_qamarzaman @FriehaAltaf @MaryamNSharif @Marriyum_A

[Search For Justice @SFJPK]

سرچ فار جسٹس کے زیراہتمام بچوں کے عالمی دن کے موقع پر تقریب کا اہتمام۔
نوشین عدنان رکن صوبائی اسمبلی اور پارلیمانی سیکریٹری سکول ایجوکیشن ڈیپارٹمنٹ کی بطور مہمان خصوصی شرکت۔
سرچ فار جسٹس کے ایگزیکیٹو ڈائریکٹر افتخار مبارک، پروگرام مینیجر راشدہ قریشی، پروگرام آفیسر مدثراحمد اور کلائمنٹ چینج آفیسر نیہا منیر کی شرکت۔
تقریب میں مختلف تعلیمی اداروں اورکمیونٹیز سے 150بچوں اور بچیوں کی شرکت۔
بچوں نے پینل ڈسکشن کے دوران تشدد بدسلوکی اور استحصال کی تمام تر شکلوں کے خاتمے کے لیے جامع اور قابل عمل ایکشن پلان مرتب کرنے کا مطالبہ۔
بچوں نے چائلڈلیبر بالخصوص گھریلوبچہ مزدوری کے خاتمے کے لیے ٹھوس اقدامات اٹھانے پر زور دیا۔
تمام بچوں بالخصوص لڑکیوں کو آن لائن ہراسیت سے محفوظ رکھنے کے لیے والدین اور اساتذہ کے لیے تربیتی پروگراموں کے انعقاد کا مطالبہ۔
اسکولوں میں جامع تربیتی پروگراموں کے بعدطلبا وطالبات کو ڈیجیٹل سیفٹی ایمبیسیڈرزمقرر کرنے کی تجویز
بچوں کے نمائندگان کے طور پر سیف علی صفدر، رحمان علی، بسمہ ساجد، لائبہ خان اور علی حسنین نے بطور پینلسٹ خطاب کیا۔
#WorldChildrensDay
@GovtofPunjabPK @GovtofPakistan @MaryamNSharif @Marriyum_A @NCRC_Pakistan