‘Online child sexual exploitation on the rise’

Transmission, manufacturing of child exploitation content has become common

KARACHI:

The Sindh Ombudsman arranged a consultation meeting on 'Online child sexual abuse' in collaboration with Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat, which was attended by Sayeda Viqar-un-Nissa Hashmi, Advisor Grievance Commissioner for Children & Transgender, Convener of Task Force on prevention and control of cybercrime against children,Syed Anwar Haider, Senior Advisor / Focal Person of WMS Regional Office Karachi and all other stakeholder such as Sindh Child Protection Authority, Home Department, Sindh Police, Information Department Sindh, Law Department, Education Department, Auqaf Department. Other officials were also present during the meeting.

Sayeda Viqar-un-Nissa briefed the participants on the work done by task force. She said that online child sexual exploitation is increasing with each passing day.

Transmission and manufacturing of child exploitation content has become very common, she mentioned.

The wafaqi mohtasib, taking cognizance of the issue, has constituted a task force to address the systematic issues by strategising ways and means by crackdown on the ring working on cyber pornography in the country; and to prevent dissemination of the videos of children sexual abuse / torture.

The task force of wafaqi mohtasib constituted the sub committees on 'Legal Reforms' and other on 'Awareness - Raising'.

The Legal Reform Committee drafted a bill 'Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021', which has been tabled in the National Assembly and the awareness Sub-Committee developed a National Plan of Action which includes public awareness, legal reforms, strengthening law enforcement through training, educational reforms and strengthening of media.

The stakeholder present in the meeting expressed their views. It was decided that a working group for raising awareness will be constituted at provincial ombudsman secretariat with representation (not below the rank of BPS-19) from all the concerned departments.

The Sindh ombudsman said that a collaborative effort between law makers, enforcement agencies and all other concerned department are required to prevent and control cybercrime against children.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2022.