Child abuse feared to surge amid Covid-19

Loss of work during the pandemic has reportedly led to greater number of minors being pushed into child labour

LAHORE:

The age of Covid-19 has reportedly seen a sudden upturn in the number of cases of abuse, exploitation and harassment in the Punjab province. A majority of these incidents appear to be directed towards children, often stemming from widespread child labour practices in homes and workshops around major cities.

According to Child Protection Welfare Bureau (CPWB) officials, since start of Covid-19, the department has rescued more than 200 victims of child abuse from various cities across Punjab. Yet however, the generality of these children, have somehow returned to the circumstances they were once rescued from, following some kind of a reconciliation between parents and the accused.

“The coronavirus pandemic has affected businesses and livelihoods across the province. The resulting loss of work (in lower socio-economic classes) has pushed elders in the family to engage their children in bread-earning. Since thousands of children are already out of school due to the pandemic, it has further amplified their risk of being driven into child labour,” told Children’s Advocacy Network Representative Rashida Qureshi. “On the other hand, children are easier to employ. They’re readily available to work on a much cheaper pay scale, which is why certain employers prefer hiring them over adults. This is a leading cause behind the surge in child labour practices,” she added.

In one such incident, 14-year old Zarqa Hussain, currently in the custody of the CPWB, was rescued from the city of Sialkot. According to the youth’s recorded statements, her father Muhammad Yousuf had acquired a sum of money from Shehzad Shaukat, in exchange of hiring Hussain as his house help. “I wasn’t aware of the horrors which awaited me at my new workplace. Shaukat, his wife Beenish Afzal and their son abused me for several days until I was finally rescued,” shared the 14-year old.

With the child safe in the bureau’s custody, the department has further requested to register a case against the Hussain’s father and her abuser, under Pakistan Penal Code Article 328-A, which lists hiring minors— aged under 15— a criminal offence.

Per Rashida Qureshi, the Covid-19 pandemic has proven to be particularly stressful for children employed to work full-time, away from home. “Many children working as house help were completely barred from meeting their families during the lockdowns. Parents, during this time lost all touch with their children, including any information about their treatment at the hands of their employers,” shared the advocacy worker.

Children’s rights activists, including Qureshi, fear that out of the thousands of children pushed into child labour during school closure, may never have the opportunity to resume education, once institutions reopen. “They (the children) will be left with little choice but to stay home or take up employment at some workshop or factory,” the activist opined.

Speaking in the regard, CPWB Chairperson Sara Ahmed said that although child labour is an act punishable by the law, it is a bailable offence. “Which means that even when we take prompt action and rescue a child, there’s a great likelihood that the offender will secure a bail within the next couple of days. He or she will then make amends with the child’s parents and escape all retribution,” Ahmed told The Express Tribune. “In its latest efforts, the bureau has launched a province-wide awareness campaign in the regard. We hope to see change but I would still urge the parliamentarians to take action through policy and make child abuse an unbailable offence,” the CPWB chairperson added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2021.