Legislation demanded to outlaw child domestic labour in Punjab

Rights experts have stressed the need for legislative reforms, administrative action and coordinated efforts for the protection of children.

Speaking at the third provincial coordination forum organised by tge Search for Justice, Children Advocacy Network and National Commission for Human Rights, they called for consistent and clear legislative and administrative measures, especially for the domestic child worker victims of cruelty.

The participants analysed the legislative and administrative environment for effective implementation of laws to outlaw child domestic labour in Punjab.

Search for Justice Executive Director Iftikhar Mubarik said a case management and referral system for child domestic labour and sexual abuse was a critical component of safeguarding children in vulnerable situations. The system should ensure that the cases are properly identified, reported and managed, and that appropriate referrals are made to relevant organisations and agencies for assistance and intervention. He urged administrative and legislative interventions to establish a robust referral and case management system in Punjab backed by the legal framework.

Children Advocacy Network Pakistan Focal Person Rashida Qureshi stressed collaboration among child welfare services, law enforcement, healthcare providers, legal aid organisations and NGOs. She also stressed clear protocols for information sharing, joint investigations and coordinated interventions.

She called for developing a robust network of service providers and organisations that specialise in child protection, including counseling services, shelters, legal aid, healthcare providers and rehabilitation programmes.

Clinical Psychologist Fatima Tahir said children employed to perform household tasks were subjected to abuse and exploitation. Children who have suffered from abuse may struggle with intense emotions such as fear, anger, guilt, shame and confusion. These traumatic experiences can have severe and long-lasting psychological effects on children, so in such circumstances counseling is an essential component of their recovery that helps them rebuild their self-confidence by fostering a positive self-image, challenging negative beliefs and promoting self-acceptance.

She said counseling should be conducted by qualified professionals experienced in trauma care, child psychology and abuse recovery.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2023.