WNAM REPORT: The Parliamentary Caucus of the National Assembly on Child Rights (PCCR), led by its Convenor, Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan, MNA, and the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a structured and results-oriented framework for collaboration aimed at strengthening child protection legislation, parliamentary oversight, and policy action across Pakistan.
The MoU was signed by the Acting Secretary of the National Assembly, Mr. Saeed Ahmed, on behalf of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights, and Mr. Syed Kausar Abbas, Executive Director of SSDO. The signing ceremony was attended by the Convenor of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights, Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan; Parliamentary Secretary for the Economic Affairs Division, Ms. Zeb Jaffar; Parliamentary Secretary for Water Resources, Ms. Rana Ansar; MNA, Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro; Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education and Professional Training, National Heritage and Culture, Ms. Farah Naz Akbar; Programs Director, SSDO, Ms. Maryam Jawad; along with officers and officials of the National Assembly Secretariat.
Under the MoU, the Parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to upholding Pakistan’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and ensuring that the Best Interests of the Child remain a primary consideration in all legislative, policy, and oversight actions. The partnership aims to promote research-based legislation and effective parliamentary engagement on key child rights issues, including child protection, child trafficking, juvenile justice, child labor, early marriage, and child abuse.
The agreement also envisages joint efforts in conducting Child Rights Budget Analyses and presenting evidence-based recommendations to relevant Standing Committees, while facilitating engagement with concerned ministries and national child rights institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, Members of the National Assembly emphasized the critical need for reliable, up-to-date, and comprehensive data on child trafficking, child abuse, and child exploitation. They stressed that robust data collection is indispensable for effective legislation and meaningful parliamentary oversight, and called for enhanced institutional support and cooperation with SSDO to strengthen research and evidence-generation processes aimed at preventing child rights violations. The Acting Secretary of the National Assembly, Mr. Saeed Ahmed, highlighted the importance of research-driven lawmaking and underscored the need to fully utilize data and analytical reports produced through this collaboration to formulate effective legislation for the welfare and protection of children.
