Behind the closed doors of Pakistani households, a shadowy kingdom exists

Andaleeb, Fatima, Rizwana's harrowing tales shouldn't merely be passing headlines; they should be catalysts for change

Pakistan's busy streets have witnessed countless untold stories since independence. Fatima Furiro, not even in her teens, with deep-seated eyes and bruised body exposing the tales of her torment, finds comfort only in her dreams of freedom. Andaleeb Fatima, barely in her teens, with her innocent laughter being silenced, tortured with a hot spoon. Rizwana, a tale not so different, a name engraved in the national consciousness, symbolises the pain of every abused child worker. Behind the closed doors of Pakistani households, a shadowy kingdom exists where children like them are subjected to unbearable and unimaginable torture.

Pakistan, with its vibrant tapestry of traditions and flourishing aspirations, is at a critical juncture. The country's pride in its youth demographic is tainted by its ambivalent approach towards the rights and safety of those most vulnerable. Children, who are supposed to be the beacons of hope, are frequently exposed to the darkness of domestic labour violence.

Pakistan's history reveals a similar picture of frequent child abuse still prevalent in society. Rafiq Qabool, Zohra Shah, Uzma, Tayyaba, and countless others have suffered similar or worse fates. The study by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) reveals that one in every four households in Pakistan has a child employed in domestic labour, which is alarming. Girls within the age range of 10-14 years predominantly fall in this child labour. A report by a rights group in 2020 discovered that in the past decade, over 140 cases of child abuse, torture, rape, or murder were reported by the media. Whereas the unreported remains are uncounted and countless. These statistics represent a lost childhood, a silenced laughter, a shattered dream, and a life marred by violence,

To overcome child labour, a pertinent issue in Pakistan, one must understand and exclude the causes behind such forced labour. The harrowing tales of children suffering in terrible conditions and facing domestic violence highlight the broader systemic failure deeply rooted in socio-economic, cultural, and educational factors. Delving into these causes could provide a clear picture to understand the issue and pave the way for potential solutions.

Financial instability or poverty is one of the root causes of child labour in Pakistan. Families living below the poverty line are left with no choice except to send their underage children to work to become a helping hand in the household income. In some instances, these children become the primary bread earners of their families because of lack of job opportunities for adults or children with ailing parents. This desperation from economic hardships forces children into hazardous occupations, including domestic work, where they become vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

Education in Pakistan has become accessible to the privileged, whereas most poor households cannot provide basic education rights to their children. Nearly 23 million children are out of school, highlighting illiteracy among youths, as for many families, the costs of education, such as uniforms, textbooks and transportation, are prohibitive. As a result of this deprivation, the children are left with limited options and are pushed into child labour. This illiteracy not only deprives these children of their basic rights or education but also perpetuates the cycle of poverty.

Moreover, Pakistan has a deep-rooted patriarchal society where low-income families prefer educating boys over girls because they never consider girls as a potential future and permanent bread-earner of the family. Girls are considered a temporary helping hand for the family until they are married off, and hence they don't see any potential investing in them. This mindset defines the societal failure of Pakistan. Therefore, the ratio of girls pushed into domestic labour is higher than boys, underlining the deep-seated cultural norms which play a crucial role in exacerbated child labour.

While Pakistan is part of many international conventions promoting the prohibition of child labour, and there also remain national laws prohibiting child labour and child abuse, enforcement always remains a problem. Weak enforcement mechanisms, corruption, lack of political will and resources contribute to increased child labour in Pakistan.

By acknowledging the problem, one can find viable solutions. Pakistan needs to strengthen the implementation of strict national laws against child labour along with aligning with the international commitments about the protection of children's rights, such as the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the ILO's C182 defining the worst forms of child labour and prohibiting those. Effective monitoring of implementation and harmonisation of domestic laws, along with strict punishment for violators can act as a deterrent.

Education can be an effective deterrent to tackling child labour. If we can ensure quality and accessible education to poverty-stricken children without any hidden costs and incentivise the parents to educate their children, it could potentially decrease child labour.

The government should address poverty as the root cause behind child labour. The commencement of schemes to uplift families, providing them with low-interest loans, ensuring fair wages and job security, and social safety nets (such as unemployment benefits) can keep the children away from work.

Community vigilance is also an important factor which can play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of domestic child abuse and forced child labour. Community watchdog groups can help report child labour and child abuse cases, and it will help the authorities take action and keep the children safe. These communities can also work as intermediaries between vulnerable families and the authorities.

While the challenges of child labour are daunting, they are not insurmountable. Through consistent efforts, targeted actions and collaborations, Pakistan can create a protective environment for its children. However, it requires political will, an unwavering commitment, and societal changes to place children's well-being at the forefront of the national agenda.

The harrowing tales of Andaleeb, Fatima, Rizwana and countless others should not merely be passing headlines; they should be catalysts for change. It's time for Pakistan to not only acknowledge the abyss of child labour violence but also actively work towards obliterating it. The promise of a brighter future hinges on the smiles of its children; let's ensure that these smiles aren't buried behind the walls of despair.