A 15-member delegation from Aawaz II’s Provincial Forum in Punjab met with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection & Welfare Commission (KPCPWC). The meeting was arranged by #omarashgarkhanfoundation, the lead partner in KP to #AawazII. Mr. Ijaz Khan, Assistant Chief-KPCPWC and Chair of Aawaz II’s Provincial Forum in KP welcomed the delegation from Punjab. He provided details of the Commission’s role and its network of 21 District Child Protection Units (CPUs) operating across KP, including the Newly Merged Districts. These CPUs, he explained, are community-level facilities that help identify, register and manage cases of children at risk. Mr. Ijaz said that the roll-out of these facilities in every district of the province was under consideration. Efforts are also being made to integrate child protection into public health and social services.

Mr. Ijaz Khan acknowledged Aawaz II’s contributions in changing attitudes towards child marriage and increasing community capacities on child protection by improving referrals to CPUs.

The delegation from Punjab shared parallel child protection experiences and appreciated the inter-provincial learning opportunity provided by Aawaz II.