Child rights
What are child rights?
Child Rights are the human rights of children. Every child, regardless of their age, race, gender, wealth or birthplace, has rights. These rights are enshrined in international law in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It recognises all children must be treated fairly, equally and with dignity. The child rights convention laws are non-discriminatory and are always in the best interests of the child. A child is recognised and described by the United Nations (UN) Children’s Rights Convention as every human being below the age of 18 years unless under the law applicable to the child, adulthood is attained earlier. The Convention recognizes the fundamental human dignity of all children and the urgency of ensuring their well-being and development. It makes clear the idea that a basic quality of life should be the right of all children, rather than a privilege enjoyed by a few.
What is the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)?
The Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international human rights agreement that outlines the specific rights that children and young people can claim. By signing up to the Convention, national governments commit to protecting these rights in their countries. 169 countries in the world have ratified UNCRC making it the most widely ratified convention. Pakistan has ratified UNCRC on 12th November, 1990 as the country celebrated its 30th anniversary of the ratification of Convention on the Rights of Children (CRC) in 2020. It is a pledge that children have the right to survive, participate, and develop to their full potential in an an environment free from exploitation, abuse and neglect
Pakistan being a state party of UNCRC is under obligation to develop a robust referral system to ensure optimum child protection and development.
The Convention offers a vision of the child as an individual and as a member of a family and community, with rights and responsibilities appropriate to his or her age and stage of development. By recognizing children's rights in this way, the Convention firmly sets the focus on the whole child.
Download United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child (UNCRC)
What is the mandate of NCRC?
Under the obligation of UNCRC, the Government of Pakistan has constituted the National Commission on the Rights of Child through a notification on February 28, 2020 under the Act of 2017. The Commission has an overarching mandate in accordance with international obligations and for matters related to the promotion, protection and fulfillment of child rights as enshrined in the NCRC Act 2017.
The NCRC’s Act & Rules: National Commission on the Rights of Child Act, 2017.