National seminar on “Role of Academia and Faith Leaders in Transforming Society to Realize Child Rights” organized by Islamic Research Institute, International Islamic University, Islamabad was held on May 14, 2024 at Dr. Ishtiaq Hussain Qureshi Conference Room, Islamic Research Institute, Faisal Masjid Campus, International Islamic University, Islamabad.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Director General, IRI, IIU, Islamabad hosted the seminar. Mr. Justice Syed Muhammad Anwar, Judge, Federal Shariat Court chaired the seminar. Whereas H.E. Ms. Shaista Pervaiz Malik, Member National Assembly of Pakistan was the chief guest and H.E. Mr. Elnur Aliyen, Chief, SBC Section, UNICEF Pakistan was the guest of honor of the seminar. Other keynote speakers of the seminar were Dr. Atta-ul-Mustafa, Faculty of Shariah & Law, IIU, Islamabad, Dr. Ikram-ul-Haq Yasin, Secretary, Council of Islamic Ideology, Government of Pakistan, Sahibzada Qamar-ul-Haq, President, Jamia Muhammadi Sharif, Chiniot, Bishop Samuel Azariah, Director, Christian Study Centre, Rawalpindi and Dr. Robina Hanif, Director, National Institute of Psychology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
The speakers of the seminar talked about the importance of achieving human rights particularly the rights of children in Pakistan. They stressed that the children in Pakistan are not given due importance and their right to survival, their right to grow and their right to food and education are compromised in Pakistani society. The biggest challenge is not legal because there are many laws related to provision of rights to children, the challenge is attitude. In many areas of Pakistan discrimination and violence against children are not considered wrong, the attitude of society about this violence needs to be reshaped and there is a serious need of behavioral change to advance children rights in Pakistani society. These behavioral change efforts can be successful if they are derived from the Quran and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H).
The seminar was attended by Members of the Civil Society, students of International Islamic University (IIU), Islamabad and Bahria University, Islamabad and by scholars and officers of IRI. The seminar ended with the vote of thanks and distribution of souvenirs by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq among the honorable guests of the seminar.