Pakistan’s Child Protection Legislative and Policy Frameworks: 1 A Critical Review

Tahira Jabeen

Abstract
Pakistani children experience a wide range of protection issues including physical, sexual,
emotional abuse, neglect, harmful traditional practices and the economic exploitation and
abuse due to broader socio-economic and structural factors. However, the state response in
the form of legislation, policy and intervention relating to child protection is sketchy. This
article provides a critical review of the child protection legislative and policy framework in
Pakistan. In doing so, it identifies the gaps in existing laws and policies, points out the
negative impacts that these gaps have on children’s safety and well being, and highlights the
need for a legislative and policy framework, which corresponds with the existing reality of
the issue and ensure Pakistani children’s basic right to protection.

Keywords: Child Protection, Legislation, Policy, Gaps, Pakistan