Access to information on children’s rights in Pakistan is challenging due to data being inaccessible, uncompiled, and outdated, which hampers informed decision-making. The lack of systematic monitoring further exacerbates the issue. To address this knowledge-gap, National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) brings to you the “The State of Children in Pakistan”, an online portal with the support of OBUN2 and TDH.
The objective of this portal is to provide authentic information on the issues and challenges faced by children in Pakistan, especially to key stakeholders on the impact and magnitude of the problem, institutional arrangements and recommendations for action.
National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) was established in Feb 2020 under the National Commission on the Rights of Child Act, 2017. The primary role of the NCRC is to advocate for the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989 (UNCRC) in Pakistan. It monitors the progress made by the government and other stakeholders in fulfilling their obligations to protect children’s rights as outlined in the UNCRC. The Commission investigates and inquires into cases of child rights violations, abuse, and exploitation. The NCRC also examines policy, law and practice and makes recommendations to the government for policy changes and improvements. Additionally, the NCRC conducts research, organizes workshops, and raises awareness about child rights to ensure a better understanding and respect for children’s rights in society.
Section (g) of the National Commission on the Rights of Child Act, 2017 ” sponsor, steer, encourage research and maintain a database relating to children and their issues to provide knowledge and awareness for national policy and strategic action for its remedy.”
Portal Functions
- Knowledge Dissemination and Awareness Raising: Provides educational resources on child rights rights principles, issues, international standards, policy and legal frameworks and institutional arrangements.
- Central Resource: Acts as a repository for information, data, reports, and updates on child rights.
- Transparency and Accountability: Promotes transparency in governance by making information accessible to the public.
- Exchange of Information: Fosters exchange of diverse perspectives and ideas from federal and provincial governments, experts and CSOs, encouraging meaningful discussions.
Portal Development
The portal is developed and maintained by OBUN2 that uses knowledge-based management to assist organisations and stakeholders in implementing children’s rights. The development was made possible due to financial support of Terre Des Hommes (TDH).