Child Rights Activist Nominated for Award

News Desk

Peshawar: Peshawar-based child rights activist Imran Takkar has been recognised for more than two decades of efforts to strengthen child protection mechanisms and promote children’s rights across Pakistan.

Takkar was nominated for the prestigious “Hamaray Hero Award” in the Child Rights Activist category in recognition of his long-standing work with civil society organisations, government bodies and child protection networks.

Over the past 20 years, he has focused on raising awareness about child rights, building the capacity of relevant stakeholders and advocating for policy reforms aimed at improving child protection in the country.

Takkar is a member of the technical working group of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection and Welfare Commission. He also serves on the Provincial Advisory Committee for the National Commission on Human Rights and is a member of the parole committee of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government.

One of his major contributions has been his involvement in establishing eight child courts in the province, in collaboration with Group Development Pakistan, the KP judiciary and the provincial government. The initiative was aimed at strengthening child-friendly justice mechanisms and improving access to justice for children.

Takkar is also the founder of the KP Child Rights Movement (CRM) and remains actively involved in the End Violence Against Women and Girls (EWAG) alliance in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

His advocacy has extended beyond individual initiatives, with sustained efforts to influence public policy, strengthen institutional capacity and encourage greater awareness of child protection issues at the national level.

The “Hamaray Hero Award”, sponsored by HBL PSL Season 9 powered by Kingdom Valley, recognised individuals making notable contributions in their respective fields.

Reacting to his nomination, Takkar described the recognition as an honour and said it reflected the collective efforts of people working to promote and protect children’s rights in Pakistan.

He was later honoured during the Lahore Qalandars versus Karachi Kings match in Karachi on March 9, 2024, where he received the “Hamaray Hero Award” during the award distribution ceremony.