Pakistan: Senate body approves three child rights bills

Islamabad: Pakistan’s parliamentary body has unanimously passed three important bills related to the rights of children, aimed at better protection of children through legislation.

The Senate Standing Committee meeting approved the Juvenile Justice System (Amendment) Bill 2021, the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Protection (Amendment) Bill 2021 and the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (Amendment) Bill 2021.

The bills are aimed at amending laws to improve the protection and care of children from violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect in compliance with constitutional provisions and international obligations to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence, maltreatment, exploitation, and abuse.

Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari briefed the committee on Human Rights about the nature of the amendments that were minor and included changes of words such as “government” with “concerned department” to evade delays and bring clarity to the laws. The amendments would ensure prompt action as such matters would be handled by the concerned ministry rather than the cabinet, she said

The meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights was held under the chairmanship of Senator Waleed Iqbal and attended by senior officers of the Ministry of Human Rights and related departments and agencies.

The meeting also considered an amendment bill for the protection against harassment of women at the workplace act, which was opposed by the committee chairman and some opposition members. Chairman Iqbal announced to hold a public hearing on the bill and recommended further consultations with women’s rights and other human rights organizations, calling it an important piece of legislation that needs to be thoroughly reviewed. The public hearing would be held on December 6.