JUSTICE WITH CHILDREN

The overall process (including the pre, during and the post-trial justice system) which will allow children to access justice and use various avenues to seek remedy or redressal when facing a human rights violation or any form of inequity and inequality. It may include courts, any complaint mechanism, watchdog forums such as ombudspersons, child protection commissions, helplines, and child protection institutions, etc. Justice with children includes child justice which defines the process before, during and after the trial of children in conflict (child accused, convicts) or in contact (child victims, witnesses) with the law. This process aims to avoid secondary victimization of any child and abides by child sensitive guidelines that rely on four fundamental principles:

Pakistan has initiated a criminal justice reform agenda that includes justice with children and in this context, Group Development Pakistan (GDP) has been closely working with state actors, civil society organizations, media, children & youth, as well as the legal fraternity to improve the legal framework pertaining to justice with children in the country, and contribute to its effective enforcement. A historical partnership between GDP and several state actors of justice has led to the establishment of six pilot child courts in Pakistan.