Search For Justice

14/02/2026

Search for Justice participated in the third Consultation Session on the National Policy to Combat Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA), organized by the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) Pakistan in collaboration with the British High Commission in Pakistan and Adam Smith International at the Punjab Safe City Authority, Lahore.

The consultation brought together key stakeholders to discuss emerging online risks faced by children and to strengthen policy responses focused on prevention, protection, accountability, and inter-departmental coordination. Hosting the session at the Punjab Safe Cities Authority highlighted the growing importance of institutional collaboration and technological innovation in addressing online harms and advancing coordinated action to protect children in the digital environment.

Search for Justice remains committed to contributing to policy development and collective efforts aimed at strengthening child protection systems in the digital age.



National Commission on the Rights of Child - NCRC Pakistan UK in Pakistan WeProtect Ethics Education for Children - Arigatou International Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Punjab Safe Cities Authority

13/02/2026

Devolution was meant to bring governance closer to people. In child protection, it has too often resulted in fragmentation without stewardship.

In a recent op-ed in The Friday Times, our Team Lead, Iftikhar Mubarik, argues that Pakistan needs clear national child protection standards to ensure consistency, accountability, and minimum guarantees across provinces.

A child’s safety cannot depend on provincial boundaries.

Read the full article here:
https://thefridaytimes.com/13-Feb-2026/devolution-without-stewardship-child-protection-needs-national-standards



Ambassade de France au Pakistan Embassy of Belgium in Islamabad Embassy of the Netherlands in Pakistan The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad National Commission on the Rights of Child - NCRC Pakistan Embassy of Sweden in Pakistan Embassy of Hungary, Islamabad Embassy of Denmark in Pakistan Ministry of Human Rights

11/02/2026

Punjab Raises Minimum Age of Marriage to 18 Years

Search for Justice welcomes the notification of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026, issued on 11 February 2026.

The Ordinance establishes 18 years as the minimum legal age of marriage for both girls and boys across Punjab. It strengthens legal safeguards by declaring child marriage a cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable offence, with enhanced penalties including imprisonment and fines. The law also introduces provisions addressing child abuse and trafficking linked to child marriage.

This development reflects sustained efforts by civil society organisations, rights advocates, and policymakers to align provincial law with constitutional guarantees and Pakistan’s international child rights commitments.

As the measure has been introduced through an Ordinance, its formal enactment by the Punjab Assembly will be an important next step. A focused and inclusive consultation process during this stage could further strengthen certain provisions and enhance the overall effectiveness and enforceability of the law.

Legislation is a critical milestone. Effective implementation, enforcement, and public awareness will now determine whether this reform translates into real protection for children across Punjab.

Search for Justice remains committed to supporting implementation, monitoring, and continued policy engagement to strengthen child protection systems.


UNICEF Pakistan UNFPA Pakistan UN Women Pakistan National Commission on the Rights of Child - NCRC Pakistan Child Protection and Welfare Bureau Govt of Punjab

09/02/2026

Our team lead Iftikhar Mubarik’s op-ed, “Protecting Children Online Without Excluding Them,” has been published in The News on Sunday.

The piece highlights that while children face real online risks, blanket bans and age-based prohibitions are not the solution. Effective child online protection requires regulation, platform accountability, privacy safeguards, and child-centred digital safety frameworks that uphold children’s rights rather than exclude them.

🔗 Read the op-ed here: https://www.thenews.pk/tns/detail/1397732-protection-without-exclusion

UNICEF Pakistan Ethics Education for Children - Arigatou International Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) WeProtect Global Fund for Children German Embassy Islamabad The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad National Commission on the Rights of Child - NCRC Pakistan

The debate on children and social media must move beyond simplistic binaries of access versus safety

04/02/2026

Protecting children online is a child protection responsibility — not a ban-first response.

As debates grow around restricting children’s access to social media, digital and child rights organisations in Pakistan have issued a joint press statement warning that blanket bans risk excluding children rather than protecting them.

Children face real online harms, but the solution lies in regulation, platform accountability, and child-centred digital safety frameworks, not prohibition.

01/01/2026

As we step into 2026, one reality remains clear:
Children cannot wait for protection, justice, or dignity to become a priority.
In the coming year, Search for Justice will continue to push for stronger and more accountable child protection systems, advocate for stronger governance and accountability, support survivors, and amplify the voices of children and young people whose rights are too often ignored.
Our commitment is firm —
to confront violence, exploitation, and harmful practices not with symbolic statements, but with evidence-based action, policy engagement, community-driven solutions, and institutional reform.
To all partners, allies, child-rights defenders, and young changemakers — thank you for walking this journey with us. The work ahead is demanding, but essential.
May 2026 be a year where commitments translate into protection, and promises turn into real change for children.
Happy New Year — from the Search for Justice team.

30/12/2025

Today, Search for Justice represented the civil society perspective on Public News, speaking on the rising cases of child sexual abuse and the serious gaps in protection and response systems.

Our message was clear —
child protection must be embedded into governance structures, so that institutions, laws, and services work together to prevent abuse, support survivors, and protect children in practice.

Children deserve protection, dignity, and justice — not symbolic commitments, but real action, investment, and accountability.

Thank you to Public News for giving space to this critical conversation.


Public News Dawn.com Express Tribune The News UNICEF Pakistan Australian High Commission, Pakistan The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad Embassy of Sweden in Pakistan High Commission of Canada in Pakistan United Nations Office on Violence against Children

10/12/2025

Human Rights Day is a reminder that rights cannot depend on the efforts of one department alone. They must guide the priorities of every tier of government. When institutions are strong, civil society is engaged, and decision-making is inclusive, dignity and equality become achievable for all.

04/12/2025

Chairperson of the Child Protection & Welfare Bureau, Member of the Provincial Assembly, Sarah Ahmad (T.I) participated as the Chief Guest in a training workshop for Lahore Police investigation officers, organized by Child Protection & Welfare Bureau in collaboration with Search For Justice.

More than 200 investigation officers from 84 police stations attended the session, which aimed to strengthen awareness of child protection laws and improve the handling of cases involving child abuse and exploitation.

She highlighted the crucial role of the police in preventing violence against children and reaffirmed CPWB’s commitment to working closely with Lahore Police to ensure timely protection and support for every child.

The workshop concluded with the distribution of certificates and was attended by Director General CPWB Rao Nadeem Akhtar, SP Headquarters Monazza Karamat, Director Admin Waqar Azeem, Executive Director Search For Justice Iftikhar Mubarak, and others.

02/12/2025

Search for Justice participated in a meaningful discussion at the University of Central Punjab (UCP) on ending gender-based violence, with a dedicated focus on child, early, and forced marriages. The strong engagement from students reflected the growing commitment among young people to challenge harmful norms and advocate for safer, more equitable communities.

Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) UNICEF Pakistan Australian High Commission, Pakistan High Commission of Canada in Pakistan Embassy of Sweden in Pakistan The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad Embassy of the Netherlands in Pakistan UNDP Pakistan UNFPA Pakistan European Union in Pakistan

01/12/2025

The recent harassment case of a female student at a public university’s sub-campus, reported by DAWN, is another reminder that our educational institutions still lack strong safeguarding systems.
https://dawn.com/news/1958006/varsity-teacher-arrested-for-harassing-girl-student

Search for Justice (SFJ) calls on the relevant authorities to strengthen reporting pathways, ensure timely and fair investigations, and make student safety a genuine priority across all campuses. Every student deserves a safe learning environment — without exception.
Full statement attached.⬇️

25/11/2025

This 25 November, we join the global call to UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls.

As digital spaces become central to education, communication, and participation, ensuring safety online is just as important as safety offline. Strengthening digital literacy, promoting respectful behaviour, and improving reporting and support mechanisms can help create online environments where women and girls feel confident and protected.

Today is a reminder that positive digital spaces are built through collaboration — from families and communities to institutions and platforms. Every step toward safer online engagement contributes to a more inclusive and respectful society.