Project Management Unit Child Protection

Minority rights are fundamental human rights. Respecting and protecting the rights of minority communities strengthens social cohesion, dignity, and peaceful coexistence.

Christmas Day celebration with the Christian minority community in Khyber, with contributions from the Directorate of Social Welfare and the support of UNICEF.

Panel discussion held during NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LITERATURE, CULTURE, AND CLIMATE at Swat University on the topic “ FLOOD, CHILDREN AND FRAGILE MINDS”.
The discussion examined the impact of floods and climate-related emergencies on the mental and emotional wellbeing of children, particularly those living in vulnerable settings. Emphasis was placed on strengthening resilience through timely psychosocial support, protective environments, and coordinated community and institutional responses to safeguard children’s wellbeing.

On Human Rights Day, we’re reminded that everyone in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa deserves safety, dignity, and equal rights. Child rights are human rights, and keeping children safe from harm, exploitation, and harmful practices is a responsibility we all share. As the 16 Days campaign comes to a close, SWD-MD’s, with support from UNICEF Pakistan, renews its commitment to working alongside District Child Protection Units and Community Based Child Protection Committees to create safer, more respectful, and more equal communities for every child.

Many people misunderstand conversations about women’s and girls’ rights as being against men, but evidence from around the world shows the opposite. Men and boys are key allies in preventing violence. Most men want homes built on respect, and they want their daughters, sisters, and mothers to live safely and thrive.
During the 16 Days campaign, SWD MD’s with support from UNICEF Pakistan is highlighting the positive role men and boys play in creating safe and supportive families and communities, where everyone can live with dignity and equality.

Violence at home harms women and children side by side. When a girl grows up in a place where fear and conflict are normal, it leaves a mark on her health, confidence, and future. Evidence shows that when we prevent violence against women, we also reduce the risk of violence against children. During the 16 Days campaign, the Social Welfare Department with support from UNICEF Pakistan is encouraging families to create homes where women feel safe and children can grow without fear. Real protection starts inside the household.

Harmful practices like Ghag and Swara take away girls’ rights, deny them choice, and put them at risk of lifelong harm. These practices are illegal under KP laws and the Pakistan Penal Code. During the 16 Days campaign, the Social Welfare Department Merged Areas, with the support of UNICEF Pakistan, is working with District Child Protection Units and Community Based Child Protection Committees to raise awareness so communities reject these customs and ensure every girl’s right to safety, dignity, and freedom from coercion.

Girls and women in KP face pressures that often go unseen - domestic stress, educational expectations, online abuse, financial hardship, and early marriages. These challenges affect their mental health, confidence, and ability to thrive. During the 16 Days campaign, the Social Welfare Department Merged Areas, with support from UNICEF Pakistan, is working with District Child Protection Units and Community Based Child Protection Committees to create supportive, peaceful environments at home and school where girls feel valued, heard, and emotionally safe.

Girls and women carry pressures that often go unseen. Many are juggling domestic stress, school demands, online harassment, financial strain, and the threat of early marriage. These challenges take a real toll on their mental wellbeing, confidence, and opportunities.

During the 16 Days campaign, the Social Welfare Department Merged Districts, with support from UNICEF Pakistan, is working with District Child Protection Units and Community Based Child Protection Committees to strengthen supportive, calm spaces at home and in schools so girls feel valued, heard, and emotionally secure.

Strong communities grow when people stand up for one another. In the merged districts, women and adolescent girls who serve on Community Based Child Protection Committees give their time to protect children, challenge harmful norms, and guide families toward safer choices. Their role is vital in creating communities that are safer and more resilient.

On International Volunteer Day, the Social Welfare Department–Merged Districts, together with UNICEF Pakistan, celebrates these dedicated women and girls whose steady efforts bring protection, dignity, and positive change to their villages.

Millions of children in KP are still out of school, and girls are the most affected. Long distances, safety worries, restrictive norms, household responsibilities, disability, and early marriage pull them away from learning.
During the 16 Days campaign, the Social Welfare Department Merged Districts, supported by UNICEF Pakistan, is working with District Child Protection Units and Community Based Child Protection Committees to draw attention to these barriers and advocate for every girl’s right to learn, grow, and build her own future.

Girls and women with disabilities face multiple barriers - not because of their impairment, but due to stigma, negative attitudes, and inaccessible environments. In KP, many girls with disabilities are denied education, safety, and opportunities to participate fully. During the 16 Days campaign, the Social Welfare Department Merged Districts, with support from UNICEF Pakistan, is working with District Child Protection Units and Community Based Child Protection Committees to raise awareness that exclusion, not disability, is the real weakness. Every girl deserves dignity, safety, and equal opportunities.

Digital violence is only one part of the reality girls and women face in KP. Many continue to experience child and forced marriage, domestic abuse, harassment, harmful traditions, and other risks that affect their safety, education, wellbeing, and futures - online and offline. SWD together with UNICEF, is committed to raising awareness of these issues so families and communities can work together to protect every girl.
-MD’s