2.2 International Legal Framework: Key Treaties Relevant to Police

Module 2.2

2.2 International Legal Framework: Key Treaties Relevant to Police

Pakistan is a State Party to several international treaties that create binding obligations for the protection of children. These instruments provide the foundation for national and provincial child protection laws.

The most relevant international instruments for police officers include:

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), 1989
The primary international treaty on children’s rights, setting out principles of non-discrimination, best interests of the child, protection from violence, and child-friendly justice.
United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (Beijing Rules), 1985
Establish standards for dealing with children in conflict with the law, emphasising diversion, proportionality, and specialised handling.
United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (Riyadh Guidelines, 1990
Promote prevention over punishment, encouraging social, family, and community-based responses and discouraging unnecessary criminalisation of children.
United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty (Havana Rules), 1990
Set minimum standards for the humane treatment of children deprived of liberty, including separation from adults, dignity, safety, and oversight of detention conditions.
ILO Convention No. 138 (Minimum Age Convention), 1973
Establishes minimum age standards for employment and requires States to prevent child labour that interferes with education or development.
ILO Convention No. 182 (Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention), 1999
Requires immediate action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour, including hazardous work, trafficking, sexual exploitation, forced labour, and use of children in criminal activities.

Important Note

International treaties do not replace national or provincial laws. Instead, they:

Set minimum standards for how children must be treated
Guide interpretation and application of national laws
Influence court decisions and accountability of police actions
Require police to prioritise protection, dignity, and rehabilitation

2.2.1 Guiding Principles from International Law Relevant to Policing

Across all international instruments, the following principles consistently apply to police work:

Children are rights-holders, not objects of control or punishment
Protection takes precedence over punishment
Detention must be a last resort and for the shortest possible period
Non-discrimination applies to all children, including undocumented or marginalised children
Child-friendly procedures must be used in policing and justice processes

UN Convention on the Rights of Child, 1989

What Police Should Remember

Pakistan ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1990. As a State Party, Pakistan is legally bound to respect, protect and fulfil the rights set out in the Convention.

UNCRC Principle	Meaning in Everyday Policing
Childhood Matters (Definition)	A child is anyone under 18; treat them as such in all police actions.
Non-Discrimination	All children must be protected equally, without bias of gender, caste, religion, ability, documentation status or background.
Best Interests of the Child	In every decision involving a child, choose the option that protects safety, dignity and future prospects.
Right to Life, Survival and Development	Police must act urgently to prevent harm and support children’s health, safety and development.
Right to Be Heard	Children who can express themselves must be listened to respectfully and their views taken seriously.
Protection from Violence and Exploitation	Children must be kept safe from abuse, neglect, exploitation and harm in all settings.
Dignity and Privacy	Police must protect the child’s identity, reputation and personal integrity in all procedures.

Module 2.2