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First Post
a day ago
- Politics
- First Post
Bonded labour, forced conversions & more: The abuse faced by minority children in Pakistan
A report by Pakistan's National Commission on the Rights of the Child reveals severe discrimination against minority children, especially Christians and Hindus, within the Islamic Republic. It presents a grim picture of how these minors endure systemic bias, institutional neglect, and targeted abuse, often with little to no legal protection read more The document, titled 'Situation Analysis of Children from Minority Religions in Pakistan', offers a stark account of how deep-rooted bias, neglect, and targeted abuse have become part of life for these children. Image for Representation/Reuters Pakistan's National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) has released a hard-hitting report that lays bare the everyday reality of discrimination faced by minority children, particularly Christians and Hindus, across the Islamic country. The document, titled 'Situation Analysis of Children from Minority Religions in Pakistan', offers a stark account of how deep-rooted bias, neglect, and targeted abuse have become part of life for these children. It points to failures in law enforcement, bias in institutions, and a lack of meaningful protections for those most at risk. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It urges the government to take immediate action, though there are doubts over whether this will lead to real change or just remain promises on paper. Here's what the report found. Forced conversions, abductions One of the most alarming findings in the NCRC report is the continued abduction of underage girls from minority communities, who are then forcibly converted to Islam and married to older Muslim men. 'The victims have few legal options due to bias in law enforcement, overwhelming social pressure and lack of political will,' the report states, as cited by Christian Daily International. Between April 2023 and December 2024, the commission received 27 official complaints involving murder, abduction, forced conversion, and child marriage. But the real scale of abuse is likely much greater, as many families remain silent out of fear of retaliation. Punjab emerged as the worst-hit province, accounting for 40 per cent of reported violence against minority children between January 2022 and September 2024. Police data cited in the report lists 547 Christian victims, 32 Hindus, two Ahmadis, and two Sikhs, along with 99 others. Also read: 'Exodus: Is Pakistan's Hindu community leaving Sindh?' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bonded labourers trapping generations The report also highlighted the entrenched practice of bonded labour, where Christian and Hindu children are forced to work in brick kilns and agriculture. Families already struggling with generational poverty and discrimination receive little to no protection from the state. According to a July report by The Christian Post, Pakistan's Christian minority, making up just 1.27 per cent of the population, faces severe religious discrimination, poor access to education, and economic exclusion. Many families end up in bonded labour after taking small loans, often between $800 (Rs 70,078) and $1,000 (Rs 87,597), to cover essentials like food, rent, or medical expenses. Pakistan's National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) report says minority families are already struggling with generational poverty and discrimination receive little to no protection from the state. File image. AFP They earn as little as $3 (Rs 262) to $5 (Rs 437) an hour, but interest deductions reduce their actual take-home pay to around $1.50 (Rs 131) a day, according to Global Christian Relief. Schools that exclude instead of protect Rather than being safe spaces, schools often reinforce the discrimination that minority children face. The report notes that both teachers and classmates can ridicule or isolate students once their religious identity becomes known. Testimonies collected in the report and shared by Christian Daily International describe how minority and lower-caste children avoid sitting at the front of classrooms, hesitate to ask questions, and sometimes won't drink water from shared glasses out of fear of being mocked or pressured to convert. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The NCRC report notes that both teachers and classmates can ridicule or isolate students once their religious identity becomes known. File image/AFP 'They also have to deal with curricula that could reinforce negative preconceptions about their religion. Isolation, below-average academic achievement, and, in many cases, school dropout are the expected outcomes of such an educational setting,' the report states. The NCRC criticised Pakistan's Single National Curriculum for erasing religious diversity, forcing minority students to study Islamic content that conflicts with their beliefs, ultimately impacting their grades and future prospects. Pirbhu Lal Satyani, the NCRC's minority rights representative for Sindh, described these children as 'the most marginalised,' facing 'stigma, stereotyping, and structural exclusion.' Chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq acknowledged that progress has been slow, citing 'fragmented efforts, lack of coordination, and limited political will' as major obstacles. In its recommendations, the NCRC called on the government to strengthen legal protections, expand social safety nets, adopt inclusive education policies, and take targeted measures to end bonded child labour and forced religious conversions. With input from agencies
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
A mirror to the nation's young
The State of Children in Pakistan 2024 report was prepared by and launched on April 30 this year by the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC). Established by the Federal Government on February 28, 2020 as an independent statutory body, the NCRC has the overarching mandate for the promotion, protection and fulfillment of child rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and other international obligations. Pakistan has ratified several key UN human rights treaties that provide a broad framework for the protection of children's rights. The NCRC report notes that there have been persistent delays in submitting periodic reports on UN treaties by the Government of Pakistan, including the practice of combining several overdue reports. While the government tracks progress in fulfilling its treaty obligations through designated ministries and treaty implementation cells, delays weaken the effectiveness of these mechanisms and hinder timely engagement with treaty bodies and implementation on recommendations. The treaty bodies' concluding observations and recommendations provide a framework for Pakistan to address gaps in policy, legislation and implementation, in relation to children's rights and related issues. Aligning national and provincial laws and policies with international standards is crucial for Pakistan to fulfill its international obligations and commitments, but more importantly, such legislative harmonisation will also help improve the situation of rights for children in the country. The report examines children's rights across the four core pillars of the UNCRC: development, survival, protection and participation. Each section examines situation on the ground, emerging trends, legal frameworks, institutional responses, and disparities. The report concludes each thematic area with targeted recommendations for policymakers, civil society organisations, and development partners for responsive and effective child-focused policies and programmes in Pakistan. Right to development According to the report Pakistan's 47% population is under the age of 18, comprising 51.6% male and 48.3% female. Out-of-School Children (OOSC) remain a challenge, with more than 26 million children aged 5-16 years currently out of school. 77% of children in Pakistan are classified as "learning poor," meaning they are unable to read and comprehend simple text by age 10. In Pakistan, inclusivity is especially critical for marginalised groups, including children from low income families, children with disabilities, children from minority communities, and transgender children, who face systemic barriers to participation and achievement in education. Educational opportunities should be expanded for children from marginalised groups by addressing specific barriers. At the national level (rural), 11% of surveyed government schools and 11% of private schools reported having children with disabilities. Physical accessibility remains inadequate in schools, with only 23% of government schools and 55% of private schools equipped with ramps, while accessible toilets are available in 51% of government and 57% of private schools. Critical support services, such as hearing assistive devices and specialised staff, remain scarce and available in only 21% of private schools and virtually non-existent in government institutions. Disabilities related to vision and mobility are the most commonly observed; however, even these cases average fewer than one child per school, highlighting gaps in identification and inclusion. In 2024, the allocation for education has dropped to 1.7 percent of GDP, a decline from 2.1% in 2020. Unfortunately, it decreases to 0.60 percent in current budget. It is lower than the global average of 4.3%. Both federal and provincial government need to work collectively and raise education spending to at least 4% of GDP, aligning with global standards. The report focuses on children's right to play and recommends, all schools should introduce a play policy which requires 30-45 minutes of daily play in schools. Provincial governments should convert available vacant urban land into safe playgrounds through local government-education department partnerships. Right to survival The report explores the multifaceted dimensions of children's survival in Pakistan, addressing health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, and the interplay between climate change and child well-being. Despite progress in immunization, high mortality rates among newborns and children under five reflect critical gaps in maternal and child health care. High population growth is a significant strain on Pakistan's limited resources and economic stability and highlights the urgent need to prioritise investment in children. Without expanding public spending on education, health and child protection, the future holds limited opportunities for children and Pakistan risks perpetuating the cycle of poverty and inequality. Pakistan needs to adopt comprehensive, child-centred, inclusive policies and programmes that target healthcare care, nutrition and climate resilience, improve governance and address systemic inefficiencies to protect children and promote healthy lives. Right to protection Despite efforts at various levels, children in Pakistan remain vulnerable to various forms of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. Children who are exposed to violence can suffer acute and long-term damage to their physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. Birth registration and Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS); child sexual abuse; violence against children including harmful practices like child marriages, forced conversion and child marriages; economic exploitation of children; street connected children; child trafficking; juvenile justice; Internally displaced people; refugee children and alternative care are topics which are discussed in detail with recommendations for improvement under the theme of right to child protection. According to the NCRC report, 'forced conversions, especially of young girls from Hindu and Christian communities, are a serious violation of their fundamental rights and freedoms. Abductions and subsequent forced conversions and marriages to older men are frequently reported in Sindh and Punjab. The situation is particularly critical in Sindh province, which accounts for 69% of all reported cases, followed by Punjab with 30% case. Among these victims, 71% of victims are being children under the age of 18 while 22% were under the age of 14. Weak legal protections and societal apathy allow perpetrators to act with impunity, leaving families traumatised and powerless.' The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) has consistently condemned forced conversions of women and girls, and called for the enactment of laws addressing forced conversions, recognizing them as a form of gender-based violence. The National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) has even recovered minor girls from perpetrators in Sindh and Punjab considering forced conversion a violation of basic human rights. Thus all three NHRIs in Pakistan realize the problem of forced conversions and recommend for legislation and its implementation. Right to participation Child participation is one of the four guiding principles of UNCRC. This right is explicitly articulated in Article 12 of the UNCRC which states that children have the right to express their views freely in all matters affecting them and that these views must be given due weightage keeping in mind their age and cognitive abilities. The report examines the right to child participation in Pakistan, identifying obstacles that hinder its fulfilment and proposing ways to strengthen its implementation for a more inclusive and equitable society. Children's participation is discussed in schools, in family context, in legal and judicial processes, in policy and advocacy and in media with legal framework and recommendations to enhance it. While recommending that electronic and print media should create dedicated programmes and sections for children, promoting voices of children on societal issues and government should support children in creating content on platforms like YouTube and TikTok by offering mentorship and providing necessary resources, such as digital literacy training, content creation workshops, access to safe online spaces, child online protection and grants for educational and creative projects, the report also asks for Implementing ethical standards for engaging children in media contexts. Addressing the knowledge gap It was a strong feeling while reading this report that the availability of updated data is a critical problem in Pakistan. This report addresses the scarcity of literature on the child rights situation and serves as a foundational resource for policymakers, researchers, development partners, and advocates. Importantly, it is also timely given Pakistan's upcoming review by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Nabila Feroz Bhatti is a human rights activist and columnist. She is Member Working Group at National Commission on the Rights of Child. She can be connected at nabilaferoz@ or on X: @NabilaFBhatti All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the author
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Convert or suffer: Pakistan's Christian and Hindu children trapped in forced conversions and child labour rings
Synopsis A new report by Pakistan's National Commission on the Rights of the Child reveals widespread discrimination against Christian and Hindu children. The report highlights severe challenges, including forced conversions, child marriages, and bonded labor, particularly in Punjab. ANI "Convert or suffer": Pakistan's Christian and Hindu children trapped in forced conversions and child labour rings A new report by Pakistan's own National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) has brought to light the deep-rooted and widespread discrimination faced by minority children, especially Christians and Hindus, within the Islamic Republic. Titled "Situation Analysis of Children from Minority Religions in Pakistan," the report offers a grim picture of systemic bias, institutional neglect, and targeted abuse. It calls for urgent government intervention, though scepticism remains over whether that call will be met with anything beyond lip to Christian Daily International, the report points to "severe challenges" faced by religious minority children, which are not isolated incidents but part of a disturbing nationwide pattern of marginalisation and abuse. Forced conversions, child marriages, and child labour, particularly in bonded conditions, remain a daily reality for thousands of Christian and Hindu the most horrifying revelations in the NCRC's findings, highlighted by Christian Daily International, is the continued practice of abducting underage girls from minority communities and forcibly converting and marrying them to older Muslim men. The report explicitly states that "few legal options" exist for victims due to institutional bias, lack of law enforcement, and overwhelming public pressure. This is not a legal gray area; it is a human rights April 2023 to December 2024, the NCRC received 27 official complaints involving cases of murder, abduction, forced religious conversion, and underage marriage, all targeting minority children. And these are merely the reported cases. Real numbers are feared to be significantly higher, as families often remain silent out of fear of retaliation or further victimisation by Daily International notes that the situation is most dire in Punjab, the country's most populous province, where 40% of the total reported violence against minority children occurred between January 2022 and September 2024. Police data cited by the report reveals that 547 Christians, 32 Hindus, two Ahmadis, and two Sikhs were among the victims, along with 99 others. The educational system, rather than offering a path to escape, only reinforces the exclusion of religious minorities. The NCRC report slams the Single National Curriculum for its "absence of religious inclusion," forcing Christian and Hindu students to study Islamic content that contradicts their faith. Christian Daily International further highlights how this negatively affects their GPA and academic progress, creating a culture of failure and still, minority students face social discrimination within schools. According to the report, both teachers and classmates often ridicule or isolate children once their religious identity is known. As per testimonies collected in the report and shared by Christian Daily International, children from oppressed caste and minority backgrounds are hesitant to sit at the front of classrooms, ask questions, or even drink water from shared glasses. They are mocked for their beliefs and told to convert to Islam to receive "divine rewards."The findings expose the brutal truth: Pakistan's minority children are not just being left behind; they are being deliberately sidelined and systemically report also draws attention to bonded labour, with Christian and Hindu children often trapped in the vicious cycle of forced work at brick kilns or in agriculture. Their families, already burdened by intergenerational poverty and discrimination, are offered little to no protection by the Daily International underscores the NCRC's strong call for immediate reforms: legal protections against forced conversion and child marriage, inclusive education policies, and enforcement of child labour laws. However, as NCRC Chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq acknowledged, progress has been dismal due to "fragmented efforts, lack of coordination, and limited political will."Pirbhu Lal Satyani, the NCRC's representative for minority rights in Sindh, told Christian Daily International that the report was a comprehensive effort to map the many layers of vulnerability minority children face. He described these children as "the most marginalised," facing "stigma, stereotyping, and structural exclusion."The NCRC's findings are a national shame, but the international community, including watchdogs and religious rights groups, should see them as a call to action. Pakistan has long presented itself as a nation of religious tolerance. But as this government-backed report now confirms, that narrative crumbles when confronted with the reality faced by Christian and Hindu can no longer claim ignorance or denial. Its institutions have documented the crisis. The question is: will it act, or continue to be complicit?
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pak's rights body report says minorities face ‘forced conversions, child labour'
A new report by Pakistan's own National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) has brought to light the deep-rooted and widespread discrimination faced by minority children, especially Christians and Hindus, within the Islamic Republic. Titled "Situation Analysis of Children from Minority Religions in Pakistan," the report offers a grim picture of systemic bias, institutional neglect, and targeted abuse. It calls for urgent government intervention, though scepticism remains over whether that call will be met with anything beyond lip service. From April 2023 to December 2024, the NCRC received 27 official complaints involving cases of murder, abduction, forced religious conversion, and underage marriage, all targeting minority children.(AFP file) According to Christian Daily International, the report points to "severe challenges" faced by religious minority children, which are not isolated incidents but part of a disturbing nationwide pattern of marginalisation and abuse. Forced conversions, child marriages, and child labour, particularly in bonded conditions, remain a daily reality for thousands of Christian and Hindu children. Among the most horrifying revelations in the NCRC's findings, highlighted by Christian Daily International, is the continued practice of abducting underage girls from minority communities and forcibly converting and marrying them to older Muslim men. The report explicitly states that "few legal options" exist for victims due to institutional bias, lack of law enforcement, and overwhelming public pressure. This is not a legal gray area; it is a human rights catastrophe. From April 2023 to December 2024, the NCRC received 27 official complaints involving cases of murder, abduction, forced religious conversion, and underage marriage, all targeting minority children. And these are merely the reported cases. Real numbers are feared to be significantly higher, as families often remain silent out of fear of retaliation or further victimisation by authorities. Christian Daily International notes that the situation is most dire in Punjab, the country's most populous province, where 40% of the total reported violence against minority children occurred between January 2022 and September 2024. Police data cited by the report reveals that 547 Christians, 32 Hindus, two Ahmadis, and two Sikhs were among the victims, along with 99 others. The educational system, rather than offering a path to escape, only reinforces the exclusion of religious minorities. The NCRC report slams the Single National Curriculum for its "absence of religious inclusion," forcing Christian and Hindu students to study Islamic content that contradicts their faith. Christian Daily International further highlights how this negatively affects their GPA and academic progress, creating a culture of failure and alienation. Also Read | UK parliamentary panel slams Pakistan for state-backed persecution of minorities Worse still, minority students face social discrimination within schools. According to the report, both teachers and classmates often ridicule or isolate children once their religious identity is known. As per testimonies collected in the report and shared by Christian Daily International, children from oppressed caste and minority backgrounds are hesitant to sit at the front of classrooms, ask questions, or even drink water from shared glasses. They are mocked for their beliefs and told to convert to Islam to receive "divine rewards." The findings expose the brutal truth: Pakistan's minority children are not just being left behind; they are being deliberately sidelined and systemically abused. The report also draws attention to bonded labour, with Christian and Hindu children often trapped in the vicious cycle of forced work at brick kilns or in agriculture. Their families, already burdened by intergenerational poverty and discrimination, are offered little to no protection by the state. Christian Daily International underscores the NCRC's strong call for immediate reforms: legal protections against forced conversion and child marriage, inclusive education policies, and enforcement of child labour laws. However, as NCRC Chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq acknowledged, progress has been dismal due to "fragmented efforts, lack of coordination, and limited political will." Pirbhu Lal Satyani, the NCRC's representative for minority rights in Sindh, told Christian Daily International that the report was a comprehensive effort to map the many layers of vulnerability minority children face. He described these children as "the most marginalised," facing "stigma, stereotyping, and structural exclusion." The NCRC's findings are a national shame, but the international community, including watchdogs and religious rights groups, should see them as a call to action. Pakistan has long presented itself as a nation of religious tolerance. But as this government-backed report now confirms, that narrative crumbles when confronted with the reality faced by Christian and Hindu children. Pakistan can no longer claim ignorance or denial. Its institutions have documented the crisis. The question is: will it act, or continue to be complicit?
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Convert or suffer: Pakistan's Christian and Hindu children trapped in forced conversions and child labour rings
A new report by Pakistan's own National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) has brought to light the deep-rooted and widespread discrimination faced by minority children, especially Christians and Hindus, within the Islamic Republic. Titled "Situation Analysis of Children from Minority Religions in Pakistan," the report offers a grim picture of systemic bias, institutional neglect, and targeted abuse. It calls for urgent government intervention, though scepticism remains over whether that call will be met with anything beyond lip service. According to Christian Daily International, the report points to "severe challenges" faced by religious minority children, which are not isolated incidents but part of a disturbing nationwide pattern of marginalisation and abuse. Forced conversions, child marriages, and child labour, particularly in bonded conditions, remain a daily reality for thousands of Christian and Hindu children. 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The report explicitly states that "few legal options" exist for victims due to institutional bias, lack of law enforcement, and overwhelming public pressure. This is not a legal gray area; it is a human rights catastrophe. From April 2023 to December 2024, the NCRC received 27 official complaints involving cases of murder, abduction, forced religious conversion, and underage marriage, all targeting minority children. And these are merely the reported cases. Real numbers are feared to be significantly higher, as families often remain silent out of fear of retaliation or further victimisation by authorities. Christian Daily International notes that the situation is most dire in Punjab, the country's most populous province, where 40% of the total reported violence against minority children occurred between January 2022 and September 2024. Police data cited by the report reveals that 547 Christians, 32 Hindus, two Ahmadis, and two Sikhs were among the victims, along with 99 others. Live Events The educational system, rather than offering a path to escape, only reinforces the exclusion of religious minorities. The NCRC report slams the Single National Curriculum for its "absence of religious inclusion," forcing Christian and Hindu students to study Islamic content that contradicts their faith. Christian Daily International further highlights how this negatively affects their GPA and academic progress, creating a culture of failure and alienation. Worse still, minority students face social discrimination within schools. According to the report, both teachers and classmates often ridicule or isolate children once their religious identity is known. As per testimonies collected in the report and shared by Christian Daily International, children from oppressed caste and minority backgrounds are hesitant to sit at the front of classrooms, ask questions, or even drink water from shared glasses. They are mocked for their beliefs and told to convert to Islam to receive "divine rewards." The findings expose the brutal truth: Pakistan's minority children are not just being left behind; they are being deliberately sidelined and systemically abused. The report also draws attention to bonded labour, with Christian and Hindu children often trapped in the vicious cycle of forced work at brick kilns or in agriculture. Their families, already burdened by intergenerational poverty and discrimination, are offered little to no protection by the state. Christian Daily International underscores the NCRC's strong call for immediate reforms: legal protections against forced conversion and child marriage, inclusive education policies, and enforcement of child labour laws. However, as NCRC Chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq acknowledged, progress has been dismal due to "fragmented efforts, lack of coordination, and limited political will." Pirbhu Lal Satyani, the NCRC's representative for minority rights in Sindh, told Christian Daily International that the report was a comprehensive effort to map the many layers of vulnerability minority children face. He described these children as "the most marginalised," facing "stigma, stereotyping, and structural exclusion." The NCRC's findings are a national shame, but the international community, including watchdogs and religious rights groups, should see them as a call to action. Pakistan has long presented itself as a nation of religious tolerance. But as this government-backed report now confirms, that narrative crumbles when confronted with the reality faced by Christian and Hindu children. Pakistan can no longer claim ignorance or denial. Its institutions have documented the crisis. The question is: will it act, or continue to be complicit?
