ISLAMABAD: The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights convened an in-camera session at Parliament House, chaired by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, to address pressing child protection issues. The committee reviewed concerns such as child labor, early marriages, violence, begging, out-of-school children, birth registration, and online exploitation, calling for comprehensive and coordinated action.

According to Senate of Pakistan, Ayesha Raza Farooq, Chairperson of the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC), provided a briefing on the various challenges affecting children and the necessary measures to enforce child protection laws effectively. The discussions emphasized emerging threats like online exploitation, social media abuse, and the misuse of artificial intelligence to target children, alongside traditional issues such as birth registration and limited access to education.

Senator Zehri underscored the importance of translating discussions into actionable steps to protect children. She suggested that the committee collaborate with the Ministry of Human Rights, NCRC, and relevant authorities to conduct provincial visits, engage with chief ministers, ministries, and secretaries to evaluate current measures, identify challenges, and propose effective policy interventions and legislation.