26.2 Million Out of School: SPARC Warns of Deepening Child Rights Crisis

26.2 Million Out of School: SPARC Warns of Deepening Child Rights Crisis Karachi: The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) held a multi-stakeholder consultation in Karachi on Wednesday to mark Universal Children’s Day, focusing on the global theme “My Day, My Rights.” The event brought together child rights experts, government officials, civil society representatives, media professionals, and schoolchildren to discuss persistent challenges facing children in Pakistan. Addressing participants, SPARC Program Manager Muhammad Kashif Mirza said more than 26.2 million children remain out of school in the country due to poverty, cultural barriers, gender-based discrimination and poor teaching quality. He said the absence of a coordinated and internationally aligned child protection case-management and referral system further exposes children to risks despite the existence of laws and policies. “We must work collectively to build systems that protect every child and ensure their access to education and meaningful participation,” he added. Child Rights & Protection Expert Muhammad Ali Bilgrami called for stronger implementation of existing child-rights legislation, terming it essential to tackle long-standing issues such as child labour, early and forced marriages, online exploitation and gaps in protection mechanisms. He stressed that children’s voices must remain central to policymaking. Representing the Human Rights Department, Mr. Abro said the federal government was “making sincere efforts” to strengthen child-protection structures but acknowledged continuing challenges. Students from a government school in Machar Colony also attended the session. They shared their experiences and demanded safe learning environments, better health facilities, extracurricular opportunities and playgrounds in public schools. Climate-change activist Rushna Zubair said children were among the worst affected by climate-induced disasters. Sindh Digital Media Forum representative Nawazish warned that the misuse of social media had made children more vulnerable to misinformation and online harm. Senior journalist Qazi Yasir said the media faced difficulties in highlighting child-related issues due to heavy news cycles and limited editorial space. SPARC Manager Shumaila Muzammil said that although UNCRC Day is marked every year, commitments often remain unfulfilled. “The problems are known, and the solutions also exist. What we lack is collective will,” she remarked. Educationist and Chairman of Private School Management Prof. Meraj Siddiqui expressed concern over the qualifications and training of teachers in both public and private institutions, saying many educators lacked basic teaching skills and awareness of child-related laws. The consultation concluded with participants—including government and corporate sector representatives—expressing commitment to supporting child-friendly policies, responsible reporting and investments in programs that amplify children’s voices.