Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto chairs Human Rights Committee
The 17th meeting of the Human Rights Committee was held today under the chairmanship of Ms. Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, MP, in the 7th House Committee (fourth floor) of Parliament.
After a short discussion with the participants, the Committee decided to proceed according to the contents of the proposal. A committee has been formed under the leadership of Ms. Zaib Jaffer, MP to look into the situation of refugees, especially Afghan refugees and other stateless people in the country, including the social impact, political and economic, implementation or otherwise.
Various legal decisions have been announced from time to time proposing comprehensive legislative and policy changes to address the issue. The chairman of the National Commission for the Rights of the Child (NCRC) told the committee that the committee.
He said that the federal government of Pakistan established the NCRC in 2020 as per the international mandate, namely the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
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The commission has a global mandate for the promotion, protection, and realization of children’s rights. The NCRC will ensure that all laws, policies, programs, and procedures are consistent with the concept of children’s rights as enshrined in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The role of the Commission includes reviewing existing or proposed laws and regulations and policies related to the rights of the child and making recommendations where appropriate.
The commission also cooperates with federal and provincial committees established under provincial laws and other relevant regional bodies. In addition, it advises the federal government to sign, ratify or ratify any proposed international agreement.
The Committee expressed concern about the financial and administrative problems facing the Commission and ordered that they be addressed immediately. A member of the NCRC Islamabad Capital Territory updated the committee on the progress made in ICT-related activities.
It was informed that for the amendment of the NCRC constitution, the committee has a recommendation to the government for the amendment of the NCRC constitution in January 2022. The committee was also briefed on its partnership with the federal government and child rights reformers.
For legislative reform, the Commission also organizes regular meetings with the Ministry of Human Rights, government departments, parliaments, representatives, the United Nations and international agencies, the Commission, and civil society organizations.
Member of NCRC Khyber Pakhtunkwa explained the details of his collaboration with the KP government to amend the KP Child Protection and Welfare Act 2019.
He said that in order to do this, they had many meetings with the government. ministries, media, parliamentarians, and other stakeholders including UNICEF.
It also provided information on the monitoring of child rights violations and the complaint process. The Sindh NCRC member said that the commission has reviewed and proposed amendments to the Sindh Child Protection Act 2011.
But thanks to the intervention of the NCRC, the amendment to the Sindh Child Protection Act has been approved in April 2021. In addition, amendments to the Sindh Child Restriction Act 2013 have been proposed.
Other achievements of the Commission include amending the Sindh Corporal Punishment Prohibition Act 2016; the Child Care and Intervention System in Sindh and Human Rights Advisory in Sindh Province.
Members honor Ms. Zaib Jaffar, Ms. Shams Un Nisa, Mr. Naveed Aamir Jeva, Ms. Aliya Kamran, Ms. Kishwar Zehra, and Mr. Mohsin Dawar, MP attended the meeting.
