Daily Times

Protection of child rights has been the greatest challenge since the time the independence of Pakistan for all the governments. A child’s health is perhaps the most significant index of social development in the country.

Pakistan ratified the Convention of Child Rights on November 12, 1990, which spells the basic human rights as child’s rights. The four core principles of CRC are non discrimination, devotion to the best interest of the child, the right of life, survival and development and the respect for views of the child. Even though we have agreed to the core rules and the standards set in CRC, we are still far away from ensuring the basic needs of health, education, food and protection for the children, especially considering these four rules. Children are still being abused, engaged in child labour and also sexually assaulted.

Violence against children is usually taken as routine practice camouflaged either in religious directives, cultural obligation or ethical justification. The ones involved in the act hardly realise that in all these justifications, children are being led towards the development of some abnormal behaviours. And as are sult, when these children grow up, it is usually taken as a learned behaviour and children tend to justify it as well. They believe it’s okay to be violent and that as an adult, there is no harm in using violence in mundane situations.

The kinds of violence mentioned above are not restricted to a particular community but also prevailing well developed urban areas and at all levels. In low income communities, children are open to abusive violence, physical violence, street fights etc.

If we connect it further, the children also face domestic violence at home mostly because of financial issues, number of siblings, or maybe the drug addicted adult. The domestic violence is usually justified in the name of religion, in the name of discipline and in the name of norms. It’s quite obvious that domestic violence has its impact on age levels including infants and toddlers whose presence isn’t even considered at the time of violence.

The second source is media. The print, electronic and social media have turned quite abrupt and bold in airing and sharing the violent images. The news channels in race of sensation come up with the videos with the caption of Parental Guidance (PG) which are aired repeatedly, without the slightest consideration that with a family sitting in front of the TV screen, it is highly unlikely that the children present won’t catch a glimpse.

The addition of gaming consoles having games like mortal Combat, Tekken which are all about the victory of the stronger one by all means of fights, have a key role in promoting violence as well.

Children between the age of one to three not only observe the violent practices, but also retain them for a specific time as well, resulting in and developing post traumatic disorders and a sense of being unprotected in the coming years. Immediate effects are disturbed sleeps, irritation and emotional distress. Lack of education, poverty, parental pressure and harsh living conditions etc. can be termed as the causes.

Counsellors for psycho-social support must be a part of teaching faculty for both boys and girls schools, since emotional trauma is common among both genders

The emotional trauma leading to some common symptoms in young children include self-blame, poor-concentration, aggression, hyperactivity, lowself esteem, superiority complex emotionlessness and pessimism. When it comes to impact of violence on young people like teenagers, it is multi dimensional which results in depression, isolation, sleep disorder and eating habits, poor communication skills, stuttering, low academic performance, violent out bursts with peers and parents and use of drugs.

The continuity of these behaviours depends upon the age group, frequency of the incidents, the presence of additional suppressors like financial issue, societal set up, support or disapproval, level of education both of parent and child. The aforementioned symptoms can be noticed and identified if observed critically without associating them with physical health or environment.

The most important and critical role other than the parent is the school and the teachers involved with the children. The teachers dealing with students of primary and secondary level must be trained and sensitised to observe such unusual cases as this is the point where if the core issue is diagnosed timely, the deviations in the psychological development can be controlled. Councillors for psycho-social support must be a part of schools teaching faculty for both boys and girls schools, since such cases occurring both genders.

Special attention and concerted efforts need to be made for Madaris (religious seminaries) as they have their own standards and parameters of discipline and controlling the students. Parents and adults must be educated on the importance of emotional intelligence, its use to control violent behaviours, not only for children but also for themselves.

Plus civil society organisations working on child’s rights must collectively act to launch awareness campaigns in this regard. Last but not the least, these behaviours are not to be taken as mental illness or sickness as they can be reformed and the children can be timely taken care of for a balanced personality.

The writer has experience in the field of education and is currently working as a resource person in the development sector

Published in Daily Times, September 12^th 2017.