ISLAMABAD: The Child Rights Movement (CRM) National Secretariat on Wednesday called for the need to accelerate measures needed by the government to curb child sexual abuse in Pakistan. CRM, a network of civil society organisations and activists working for the promotion and protection of child rights called for the need to improve and strengthen child protection systems in the country, as well as to enhance the forensic investigation process to ensure increased conviction rates of perpetrators. The CRM also emphasised on the need to develop a comprehensive data base of abusers, saying that such abusers must never be offered employment within the institutions working for children. During a press conference on Wednesday, the CRM also called for the need to improve the forensic investigation process, including emphasis on properly securing the crime scene to prevent and collect DNA evidence. He further called for addressing child trafficking in the country, as child sexual abuse and trafficking were a closely linked phenomenon. The CRM representative demanded approval of the Child Protection & Welfare Act from Senate. In addition, CRM suggested an amendment in criminal law to make the offences related to child abuse non-compoundable. “Enactment of the Trafficking in Persons Bill which aims to prevent and combat trafficking in persons, especially women and children, can be a first step in holistically addressing internal trafficking and setting up a mechanism for victims of trafficking,” he said. Published in Daily Times, February 22nd 2018.