Islamabad: A new report by the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) sheds light on the pervasive challenges faced by children from minority religious communities in Pakistan. The study reveals systemic exclusion from education, protection, and economic opportunities due to intersecting disadvantages linked to religion, caste, gender, and socio-economic status.
The report, “Children from Minority Religions in Pakistan: Situation Analysis 2024,” highlights the compounded vulnerabilities of minority children, particularly those from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Ahmadi, and other marginalized groups. Despite constitutional guarantees for free and compulsory education, nearly 39% of school-aged children remain out of school, with minorities experiencing even higher rates of exclusion.
Key barriers to education include poverty, child labor, gender-based exclusion, and infrastructure deficits. Minority children often face religious discrimination, with reports of bullying and pressure to convert. The lack of targeted education policies further marginalizes these children.
The report also addresses the severe issue of bonded labor and forced conversions. Minority children are disproportionately represented in bonded labor due to entrenched poverty and caste-based discrimination. Forced conversions, particularly of Hindu and Christian girls, remain a significant concern, with weak law enforcement and societal bias allowing perpetrators to evade accountability.
To address these challenges, the report recommends strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing social protection programs, and formulating inclusive education policies. It calls for specific legislation to criminalize forced conversions and improve protections for victims and their families.
The NCRC emphasizes that addressing these structural patterns of discrimination requires more than legal reforms. It demands sustained political will, societal change, and a commitment to inclusivity to ensure minority children can access the rights guaranteed by Pakistan’s Constitution and international commitments.