Islamabad: In a significant development aimed at advancing justice for children, the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This partnership focuses on enhancing the protection and legal representation of children within Pakistan’s judicial system, particularly those who are victims, witnesses, or alleged offenders.

According to United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, the MoU was signed by Hayat Ali Shah, Director General of the FJA, and Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan. The agreement underscores the importance of accessible justice as a fundamental right for children, which is crucial for their well-being and development.

The MoU aims to sensitize judges and improve judicial responses to issues involving children in contact with the law. “Being the premier judicial education institution, FJA is striving to improve service delivery by ensuring accessibility and predictability. The collaborative engagement with UNICEF is likely to sensitize judges about the rights of children in contact with the law,” stated Hayat Ali Shah.

The collaboration aligns with UNICEF’s Global Reimagine Justice for Children Agenda, which advocates for children’s rights to know and claim their rights, access free legal aid, and avoid detention, among other points. It also emphasizes the need for alternative dispute-resolution mechanisms and child-friendly courts.

“Collaboration with the FJA would go a long way in realizing and implementing children’s rights to live free from violence, exploitation, abuse and to end the detention of children in all its forms,” said Abdullah Fadil. He highlighted the necessity of having child-friendly and gender-responsive mechanisms within the judicial system for children to reach their full potential.

Under the MoU, FJA and UNICEF will combine their expertise to generate data on child-related justice, strengthen the capacity of the justice workforce, and equip legal practitioners with the skills to handle child-sensitive cases effectively. This initiative also includes modeling interventions that support and protect children during legal proceedings and promoting greater awareness of children’s rights among legal professionals through advocacy and dialogues.