MADRID
\nThe 5th World Congress on Justice with Children concluded here on Wednesday in Madrid, reaffirming the international community\u2019s commitment to placing children at the heart of justice systems worldwide.
\nOrganized by the Global Initiative on Justice With Children – in partnership with Terre des Hommes, Penal Reform International, the International Association of Youth and Family Judges and Magistrates (IAYFJM), UNICEF, UNSRSG, and the Global Campus of Human Rights – the Congress convened a wide array of global leaders, judges, prosecutors, civil society, and youth from June 2 to 4 under the theme: \u201cAdvancing Child-Centered Justice: Preventing and Responding to Violence Affecting Children in Child Justice Systems.\u201d
\nHigh-level representation from Pakistan included Mr. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Senior Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court; Syed Farhad Ali Shah, Prosecutor General of Punjab, Mrs Rabiya Javeri Agha, Chairperson National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), Valerie Khan GEDSI and child rights consultant, and delegates from Group Development Pakistan (GDP) in collaboration with UNICEF, UNFPA, UN SRSG on Violence against Children, the French Embassy to Pakistan, Spanish Embassy to Pakistan, and Mr Gilles Blanchard.
\n Coming off the heels of a historic legislative victory in Pakistan- the passage of the ICT Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025 -the Congress created space for Pakistan to present its reform momentum to an international audience.
\nThe new law sets the legal age of marriage at 18 for all genders and introduces strict penalties for violators, representing a major step toward ending harmful practices and advancing children\u2019s rights.
\nAdditionally, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah emphasized the philosophical and legal imperatives of child-centered justice, stating: \u201cA child is not the property of the state or a parent. They are the future, and they will govern our planet.\u201d He further underscored the urgency of the moment: \u201cFor our children, who are both our future and our present, we cannot afford to delay action. We must prioritize the rights of children because this is essential for them to enjoy their human rights today, and because it is an investment in our future.\u201d
\nThe Senior Puisne Judge of the SCP also took this opportunity to highlight some ground-breaking jurisprudence that made it binding for the family courts to apply the principle of the \u201cbest interest of the child\u201d, thereby fostering a paradigm shift towards a child rights-based dispensation of justice.
\nProsecutor General of Punjab Syed Farhad Ali Shah presented the province\u2019s integrated and data-driven approach to child and adolescent centric-justice sector reform: \u201cWe have international organizations like UNFPA and UNODC helping us strengthen our departments. As a criminologist, I find siloed operations detrimental. Our Chief Minister has integrated departments, giving us access to real numbers and real facts. A designated prosecutor now provides a line of inquiry to the police in GBV cases. Any child or adolescent involved must be interviewed in a place of their choosing.\u201d
\nThe Congress featured plenary discussions, workshops, and child-led sessions addressing a range of justice priorities, including digital justice, child detention, neuroscience-informed approaches, and justice systems during crisis. Delegates exchanged promising practices and reaffirmed commitments to advance accountability and restorative models that prioritize the dignity, safety and voice of the child.
\nRepresentatives from GDP emphasized the role of collective action: \u201cThis Congress has been instrumental in bringing together diverse voices to champion the cause of justice for children. The recent legislative advancements and the launch of the Reimagine Justice for Children in Pakistan last December, in collaboration with the FJA are a testament to what collaboration across institutions can achieve.\u201d
\nUNFPA and UNICEF echoed this sentiment, reiterating their support for evidence-based, child-sensitive, inclusive and gender-responsive legal reforms in Pakistan, while Human Rights Commissions in Pakistan called for the nationwide adoption and implementation of the Child Marriage Restraint Act as per constitutional and international\u00a0standards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MADRID The 5th World Congress on Justice with Children concluded here on Wednesday in Madrid, reaffirming the international community\u2019s commitment to placing children at the heart of justice systems worldwide. Organized by the Global Initiative on Justice With Children – in partnership with Terre des Hommes, Penal Reform International, the International Association of Youth and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":482857,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-482846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n