Imran Ali, who was found guilty of the rape and murder of seven-year old Zainab Ansari was awarded 12 counts of the death penalty on August 4, 2018. Yet, contrary to what the proponents of the death penalty for sex offenders have argued, sexual assaults on children continued since the sentencing. Just now, I came across news of a seven year old girl facing the same brutality as Zainab in Sukkur. Another girl named Haseena Gul was raped in Mardan two days back. So, it is safe to say that sexual predators aren’t quaking in their boots over the possibility of Imran Ali hanging for his crimes. The nature of these offenses makes it natural for people to demand the harshest possible punishments for the offender. However, the sexual abuse of children is nothing new. The only difference is that we have the media now, to highlight the most heinous cases and inform the general public. As we have learnt now from coverage of the Zainab case, the hype created by the media only lasts for a few days before being overtaken by the endless waves of “breaking news”. Barriers between parents and children in the name of culture and religion only lead to trauma in the long run. And the worst damage is caused when children are going through puberty We also came to find out that the monster who raped and murdered an innocent seven year-old was apparently a highly religious fellow. This clearly shows how a pious identity can be used to mask diabolical intent and the shallowness of the religious knowledge being imparted in our society. And this is not the only cultural issue we face. In a normal Pakistani family, talk about biological differences between genders and the biological changes children go through when they grow up are treated as a taboo. Parents must do their duty by assuring their children that they are the owners of their bodies, and that it is okay to discuss them. Unfortunately, this is rare in our society because of so-called of what we perceive as etiquette and modesty. As a result, children facing medical issues or suffering abuse are unable to share what is happening to them with their parents. It is absolutely ridiculous that even though everyone goes through puberty, it is treated with such secrecy by parents. A friend told me that the day she had the first menstrual cycle at the age of thirteen, she just locked herself into a washroom as she didn’t know what to do. Her mother and grandmother added to her trauma by crying about it as if something horrible had happened. Boys parents keep equally mum about this natural phenomenon. This is despite the fact that psychologists recommend that parents be the sources of information so that children aren’t misguided by someone else. Now let’s talk about schooling and the educational system. Emphasis is put on academics, grades and competition. However, other human needs are neglected. There is nobody at our school to counsel the students about natural biological facts, needs and precautionary measures in case a child falls victim to sexual assault. This hush-hush strategy at our institutions leaves questions unanswered, leaving kids vulnerable to abuse. Let me tell you, no matter how many people are hanged, unless until we start educating our children properly, these ghastly cases will continue. It has to start with the parents. Let’s build trust with effective communication. Let the child learn to own his or her body and confidently talk to the parents about whatever he or she is going through. Education has to start as early as possible and before something unauthentic is conveyed to your child. Overreactions must be avoided, as this would close the doors to further sharing and queries. Thirdly, knowing your neighbours, family friends and others who your child may be interacting with is important for their safety. Parents must also adapt to the modern world. Gone are the days when mothers could tell children that storks bring babies to married couples in baskets. Just face it. Your children already know a lot because of the gadgets you gave them. The real task is providing filtered information, and removing filters gradually and in a timely fashion. Barriers between parents and children in the name of culture and religion only lead to trauma in the long run. And the worst damage is caused when children are going through puberty. These barriers need to be reviewed and reconsidered. It must be kept in mind that there is nothing unusual going on over here. Every parent has been through puberty and that will add to the child’s confidence. 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, August 13th 2018.