UNICEF INNOCENTI: Generating Evidence on Internally Displaced Children, Afghan Child Migrants and Forcibly Displaced Children in Pakistan

SEPTEMBER 2025

Forcibly displaced children and child migrants in Pakistan face serious protection risks, from violence and family separation to child marriage, trafficking, and limited access to services. Despite the presence of 3.6 million Afghans in Pakistan, little research has examined these children’s specific vulnerabilities.

To fill this gap, UNICEF Innocenti, UNICEF Pakistan, and the Pakistan National Commission on the Rights of the Child commissioned Samuel Hall to conduct research for the study Generating Evidence on Internally Displaced Children, Afghan Child Migrants and Forcibly Displaced Children in Pakistan.

The report assesses children’s lives in urban and peri-urban settings, identifies barriers to protection services, explores their aspirations, and reviews existing service provision. It provides evidence-based recommendations for UNICEF, the Government of Pakistan, and partners. An accompanying policy brief calls for inclusive, rights-based responses and equitable access to services to strengthen protection and social cohesion.

Read full report here