Child Courts and JJSA 2018
About 39% of Pakistan’s population is under 18
The writer is a Barrister of Lincoln’s Inn and an advocate of the High Courts of Pakistan
About 39% of Pakistan’s population is under 18. Therefore, it is important to have special courts and mechanisms specifically for the needs of the country’s children. Child Courts, also known as Juvenile Courts and Child Protection Courts, have been established in Pakistan under the Juvenile Justice System Act (JJSA) 2018, to improve the juvenile justice system for children in conflict or in contact with the law and to provide them with child-sensitive and fair justice. The JJSA 2018 defines a child as a person under 18 years of age. However, the state has failed to protect children, pre-, during and post-trial due to shortfalls in the law’s implementation.