In a bid to spread awareness about the heinous crime against vulnerable children, Mahira Khan, Shehzad Roy, Zeba Bakhtiar and Younis Khan spoke in unison at a press conference in Karachi, demanding that the government takes steps that will protect children from sexual abuse. The brutal murder of the 10-year-old Farishta once again highlighted the issue of child sexual abuse in our society. Actress Mahira Khan prayed that what happened to Farishta may it never happen again, but prevention is the key. “In such incidents, police needs to be quick in lodging an FIR, then there are counsellors, therapy centres and child protection units that should be abled,” she added. Mahira, Zeba Bakhtiar and Younis Khan joined hands with Shehzad Roy’s Zindagi Trust, highlighting the need to implement the age appropriate curriculum of Life Skills Based Education (LSBE) in schools designed to make the children more aware. “Zeba Bakhtiar, @TheMahiraKhan, @YounusK75, @nazimhaji join @ZindagiTrust to demand that the govt introduce #LSBE in all schools as the first step to #ProtectOurChildren from abuse. Run successfully at @ZindagiTrust Govt Schools, LSBE by Aahung can prevent a majority of #CSA cases.” Roy explained that this LSBE curriculum is age appropriate and approved by the scholars, that teaches children about sexual abuse, physical abuse and their body rights. ‘This Life Skills Based Education (LSBE), Ahung’s curriculum is implemented in Fatimah Jinnah Government School adopted by the Zindagi Trust in 2011. Teachers and parents both were taken on board to make children aware of what signifies as child sexual abuse,” he said. But the best of private schools are not implementing the curriculum. Talking on the issue, Bakhtiar mentioned that after Zainab’s murder last year, 10 cases have been reported on a daily basis. It is very important to educate the children. “Parents find it difficult to talk to their children on this subject but it’s high time that we find a way to convey the message to our off springs,” she added. Younis stressed that there are no reported cases of child sexual abuse in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa because of the culture of Pathans. “Last year, the minor Zainab and now Farishta, both the cases are condemnable and we need to take concrete steps so that such incidents don’t occur in the future,” he added.