Reham Khan criticises K-P govt’s role in protecting children

Says latter has failed in safeguarding children against sexual abuse

PESHAWAR: Social activist and former ambassador of street children in K-P, Reham Khan, criticised the role of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government in protecting the street children of the province. She said K-P government has failed in safeguarding the children who are continuously falling victim to sexual abuse and other heinous crimes.

“How can we let our children stay outside, leaving their life and security under high risk? Being a mother, I feel every child should be protected as they are our future, if they are in danger that means our country’s future is in danger.” Reham said while speaking to the media at a news conference in the city on Monday.



Referring to the recent sexual abuse case reported in Swat, in which at least 17 children were sexually abused and used in pornographic videos, Reham said the K-P government did not show proper concern regarding the issue which is why she has jumped in to protect the children of the province. She showed deep concern over the improper investigation of the child sexual abuse case and said, “I fear if proper investigation is not conducted in such cases, the number of cases would increase rapidly, and children would remain unsafe for the rest of their lives.”

Real picture

Reham said according to a rough data collected by a private NGO, almost 3,400 children have become victims of sexual abuse in the last few years but these are the registered cases, a rough estimate shows the actual number is more than 10,000. She demanded the appointment of a female and male probation officer in each district of K-P to ensure the juvenile justice system in police stations and prisons.



She also demanded the establishment of K-P commission on the rights of a child through an act of the K-P Assembly, as well as a child protection system in the province on a priority basis. “Budgetary allocation should be made for a child protection system and child protection units should be established in each district of the province,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2016.