IV. Main areas of concern and recommendations

C. General principles (arts. 2, 3, 6 and 12)

Non-discrimination

18.The Committee remains extremely concerned about:

(c) Widespread discrimination against children belonging to religious and ethnic minorities, children with disabilities, children born out of wedlock, children living in poverty, children from Dalit communities, children living in rural or remote areas and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children.

19. The Committee urges the State party to take concrete measures to address and reduce the serious gender disparities and discrimination against girls prevailing throughout the State party. In particular, the Committee recommends that the State party take effective measures to review its legislation and practices in order to eliminate any gender disparities in entitlements through the implementation of comprehensive public education and awareness – raising programmes to combat and prevent discrimination against girls, aimed at local authorities, religious leaders , judges and prosecutors , and to inform children, especially girls, about their rights under the Convention. Furthermore, the Committee reiterates its previous recommendation that the State party take all appropriate measures, such as comprehensive public education programmes, to combat and prevent discrimination and negative societal attitudes and mobilize political, religious and community leaders to support efforts to eradicate traditional practices and attitudes that discriminate against children belonging to religious or other minority groups, children with disabilities, children living in poverty, children from Dalit communities, children living in rural or remote areas and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children.

Link to full text of the report: Concluding Observations-CRC-Pakistan-2016-eng