Child courts

Bill for specialised courts to handle child abuse cases clears hurdles.

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A bill to establish specialised courts to handle child abuse cases has cleared some initial hurdles without any notable opposition, and it is hoped that the full National Assembly and Senate also give it the support it deserves. PML-N's Nosheen Iftikhar, one of the few women who have been directly elected to the National Assembly, submitted the bill, which seeks to amend several aspects of the existing law relating to child abuse, including rape. Apart from specialised courts, the most notable changes proposed in the bill include expedited trial schedules for such cases, and a requirement for recording victims' statements in child-friendly environments and in the presence of a psychiatrist.

The proposed legal changes would bring Pakistan on a par - at least on paper - with the recommended international standards for investigating and prosecuting crimes against children. More, however, would still need to be done to sensitise police and judicial staffers on how to make the processes less traumatic for victims, many of whom are barely in primary school. But if the government can ensure that the new bill is turned into law and implemented in letter and spirit, we could go a long way in improving prosecution of crimes against children. Near unanimous support for the bill so far is also a heartening reflection of how politicians can still set aside their differences when it comes to protecting children.

It is also worth noting that legal professionals have also highlighted the need for specialised courts. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah of the Supreme Court recently called for the establishment of child courts, and although he highlighted child labour and child trafficking during his speech at an event in Islamabad, these crimes often overlap with physical and sexual abuse of children. The establishment and eventual expansion of child courts to cover the most serious crimes against children is a commendable goal that deserves support and follow-through. Nobody deserves to suffer in silence, especially not the most vulnerable people of all, children.