Government of Pakistan Failed in Protecting the Children from Sex Abuse ; Child Rights Movement

Islamabad;20 Dec 2019-Child Rights Movement Pakistan-CRM a coalition of more than 450 civil society organizations working for the protection and promotion of child rights in Pakistan held a press conference at National Press Club, Islamabad today, followed by a protest, where a large number of people reminded the decision makers of Pakistan of their due responsibilities towards the protection of children from child sexual abuse in the country.

Talking to media, Coordinator Child Rights Movement Mamtaz Gohar said that, Child Rights Movement is extremely concerned over the recent horrific cases of child sexual abuse and murder cases surfacing in Kasur. Children razed in to pieces after sexual abuse in Kasur is in fact the perpetrator’s confidence in the weakness of the law and order situation in the district.

The State has failed to provide safe, secure and protected environment for its children said the Coordinator.On the other hand, 30th anniversary of the UNCRC is being observed globally this year. Being party to the CRC the state is under an obligation to provide children with the rights mentioned in the CRC.

Ms. Nayab Ali representative Group Development Pakistan said that in the wake of the horrific Kasur child sexual abuse scandal in 2016, it appeared that people will never forget the issue and strong comprehensive child protection systems will be put in place, but unfortunately like other human rights issues, the topic could not sustain any significant place in news highlights and thus the contemplations for its eradication became remained a farce.

Mr. Kausar Abbas Executive Director SSDO stated that, the typical response by Ministry of Human Rights on the issue is equally concerning, the official from the ministry has attributed the delay in passing Zaibab Alert bill towards the Chairman Standing Committee on Human Rights. Which is in fact not the sole reason for the delay, because if the Ministry was committed for the prevention of child sexual abuse, a bill related to it should be introduced in Punjab, where the sitting government has clear majority. In fact the pending Zainab Alert Bill is ambiguous, it is actually not in accordance with other relevant laws and also contradicts with articles and clauses from international conventions and treaties on human rights, signed and ratified by Pakistan.

Mr. Ishtiaq Gillani Executive Director UGOOD stated the actual failure in establishing a concerted child protection system in the country is random steps taken by multiple authorities, that are short lived, inconsistent and unsustainable. One example of this is non-responsive or uncommon helplines, which are established in the name of child protection, but have never benefited its target.

He added that, in a similar move, PK government took a misogynist approach in the name of child protection; they eventually made it mandatory for all school age girls to ware veil to protect them from sexual abuse. Did the decision makers not know about the prevalence of sodomy (sexual abuse of boys) in KP? She quoted that,Sahil Cruel Numbers report clearly shows that during 2018, more boys than girls were sodomized in the age bracket of 6-10 and 11 to 15 years, eventually more boys than girls in this age group were sodomized by gangs. The same report states that around 32 girls were raped and murdered, whereas 31 boys were sodomized and murdered during 2018.

Advocate Imtiaz Ahmed Somra Senior Legal Officer Sahil Stated that that one of the general emotional reaction, that is always immediate and unreliable, is the call forincreasing the intensity of punishment for the abuser, which is just a mare expression of anger, that has never proved beneficial. Instead, in the pretext of the existing societal norms, perpetrators, particularly those who are acquaintance or family members request for forgiveness and attain acquittal in such cases.
Imtiaz added that Sahil Cruel Number Report clearly shows that cases of murder after abuse occur, when the victim recognizes the abuser, this is the reason that, today parents in Kasur find body parts of their children in fields, distorted by abusers for purging evidence.

Child Rights Movement calls upon the government of Pakistan, particularly Chief Minister Punjab to declare child protection emergency in Kasur.

The government must focus more on the prevention of child sexual abuse through introducing Life Skills Based Education, in the mainstream school curriculum of every education system, ranging from private schools to Madaras and orphanages.
CRM also demands for establishing specific police units at district level, linking them with hospitals for medico legal facilities.

CRM also urges the government to take tangible steps for the implementation of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child in Islamabad, and its replication in other provinces immediately.

It is observed in media reporting the in most of the cases of child sexual abuse Police do not cooperate with aggrieved party. Refusing to register FRI is a very common practice. Due to weak investigation and no use of scientific approach to investigate and collect evidence in CSA such cases accused are not being punished. One of the main reasons of increasing CSA is that the victims are not getting justice in a timely manner.

Police reforms, training and sensitization are crucial at this stage. The civil society of Pakistan offers its expertise and resources to engage with police to change the mindset.