KARACHI: The Government of Sindh on Tuesday inaugurated a Child-Friendly Medicolegal Clinic (CFMC) at the Office of the Police Surgeon Karachi to provide specialized support and medicolegal services to child survivors of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
The facility has been established under the Anti-Rape Crisis Cell (ARCC-South) and Medicolegal Clinic in collaboration with UNICEF, UKAid and Awaaz-II. It is the first of five such clinics planned across Sindh, including one in Tharparkar district.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Health Secretary Tahir Hussain Sangi, Chairperson of the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women Rubina Aman Brohi, Police Surgeon Karachi Dr. Summaiya Syed, and representatives of UNICEF, FCDO, UNFPA and the Health Department.
Officials said the Child-Friendly Medicolegal Clinic has been designed to provide age-appropriate, survivor-centred and trauma-informed medicolegal services in a safe and dignified environment for children affected by violence and abuse.
Speaking on the occasion, Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho said every child deserved to be treated with dignity, compassion and respect, particularly after experiencing violence or abuse. She said the clinic reflects the government's commitment to survivor-centred care and would help ensure that child survivors receive not only medicolegal services but also protection, support and care necessary for recovery and reintegration into society.
She expressed hope that the facility would eventually evolve into a centre for awareness and prevention, contributing to broader efforts to combat violence against children.
Health Secretary Tahir Hussain Sangi said the establishment of the clinic would strengthen coordination among health services, child protection authorities, social workers, law enforcement agencies and legal aid providers. He emphasized the importance of integrated services to ensure timely access to protection and justice for child survivors.
Police Surgeon Karachi Dr. Summaiya Syed said the clinic had been developed to provide child-sensitive medicolegal services in an environment that minimizes fear and trauma. She said key features of the facility include standardized documentation protocols, counselling services for children and their families, referral linkages with paediatric healthcare services, implementation of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infection protocols, and emergency contraception for eligible post-pubertal girls.
She added that boys aged 12 years and under would be examined by women medicolegal officers to promote comfort and child-sensitive care.
According to officials, the clinic will establish referral mechanisms connecting survivors with child protection services, psychosocial support, legal assistance and safe spaces where required. Special emphasis has also been placed on ethical standards in handling cases involving minors and preventing re-traumatization during the medicolegal process.
The Health Department acknowledged UNICEF's technical and programmatic support in establishing the clinic and appreciated the continued collaboration of development partners, including FCDO and UNFPA, in strengthening child protection and survivor support systems in Sindh.
Officials described the launch as a significant milestone in advancing child protection and ensuring comprehensive, compassionate and coordinated care for child survivors of violence under an integrated framework.
