‘Govt must move to end violence against children’

Speakers says authorities only issues statement of grief when an incident surfaces

LAHORE: Media and social activists should work in close coordination to influence the government to take concrete steps to end all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect of children.

This was the crux of views expressed by the speakers at a seminar held in the wake of recent incidents of violence against children.

The seminar was organised by Search for Justice, Children Advocacy Network- CAN Pakistan, in collaboration with the Australian High Commission in Pakistan, at a private hotel on Tuesday.

Child Rights Activist and Executive Director Search For Justice Iftikhar Mubarik said that whenever an unfortunate incident surfaced, the government would issue statements of grief and notice. He added committees were also formed to probe the matter, but no proper steps were taken to bring the culprits to book. He quoted an example of the Board of Government of Child Protection and Welfare Bureau meeting last being held at the time when Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi was chief minister. It showed the non-seriousness on the part of the government towards the issues of children.

He further outlined a new development agenda, to be achieved through Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), was pledged by Pakistan in September 2015 and would require serious actions from the government to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against children.

Journalist Sheraz Hasnat proposed strategic coordination between the media and social activists to push the neglected issue of child protection. He also urged a capacity building session for media persons so they may be able to equip with relevant information and knowledge to cover cases of child abuse in general and child sexual abuse in particular. He suggested that organisations such as Search for Justice must join hands with press clubs and organise training workshops on sensitive reporting of child sexual abuse to prevent children from further harm. “The major objective of reporting in cases of violence against children must be in line with best interest of the child, he added.

Shahzada Irfan Ahmed, a senior journalist, stressed that there was a need to highlight the reasons contributing to children’s vulnerabilities. He also urged that media should also play an effective role in educating masses on protection of children.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2018.