Editorial

Dirty truths

There is a real rise in the numbers of children being sexually abused and this can no longer be swept under the carpet

Editorial February 13, 2015

The Ministry of Law and Justice has informed parliament that in the last two years, there were 5,790 cases of CSA registered nationally STOCK IMAGE

Pakistan is experiencing an alarming rise in the numbers of children being sexually abused. The numbers are so great that they cannot be attributed to the developing climate of disclosure that has been evident in recent times, but point to a real increase in the incidence of child sexual abuse (CSA). The Ministry of Law and Justice has informed parliament that in the last two years, there were 5,790 cases of CSA registered nationally. It is reported from every province in the land — 3,291 in Punjab, 199 in Balochistan, 77 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 1,411 in Sindh, 270 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and 15 in Gilgit-Baltistan. Child-care professionals the world over, as well as the police both nationally and internationally, are certain that CSA is under-reported everywhere, and Pakistan will be no exception. There are more — possibly many more — cases of CSA than show up in official figures.

Legislation to protect children from all forms of abuse is woefully inadequate and indifferently applied where it exists. Punjab is the only province with a developed government-funded child protection service staffed by trained social workers. A PPP lawmaker has called for fresh legislation to counter the increase in CSA, and has also urged provincial governments to bring forward child protection legislation. Children are vulnerable and exploited at every level in Pakistan, be they brick-kiln workers or the ‘maids’ that live in the houses of the wealthy and drudge from morning to night for tiny recompense. Official responses to the plight of children are often piecemeal, falling instead to NGOs and well-meaning philanthropists, who do what they can but it falls far short of what is needed. NGOs can do no more than collect, collate and highlight the problem, but they have neither the mandate nor the funding to go much beyond that however much they might want to. There is a real rise in the numbers of children being sexually abused and this can no longer be swept under the carpet. Over to you, legislators.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2015.

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COMMENTS (2)

Student | 9 years ago | Reply @ Toticalling report such crimes report to whom ?? Toticalling . This is the main problem that even we can not report to some where for any thing. Do you think that we can report to police. ?? lolz. (I am doing lolz on ourself not on you buddy) Police only register the report (after getting money). Furthermore no workout on the report instead of wandering around hunting those who are culprit so that the police can hot their pockets !!!! Huh

Toticalling | 9 years ago | Reply Passing the responsibilty to legislators is only a very small step to reduce child abuse. The main culprit is our culture which stands for bullying the weak. Here children and women are the main losers. As for sexual abuse, one alternative is to allow our sexual wishes fulfilled in natural ways. Many catholic priests have been caught using young boys for sex, since priests are not allowed to marry. It is also important to encourage kids to report such crimes. Unless culprits are punished, other will have no fear and will carry on raping children.

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