Our children: voiceless and powerless

According to a report published in 2019 by “Sahil” organization working on child rights, from January to June 2019 there were 1304 casesof child rape reported, out of which 614 children were raped by relatives.

According to the report, in 203 incidents, the child was abused in his own home, while in 300 incidents, the relative abused the child in his own home, 12 were targeted in seminaries, three were targeted in the accused’s workplace, while 162 incidents were mix such as in fields, streets and forests etc. Similarly, if the data is seen according to this report in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in the first 6 months of 2019 have 51 children’s rape cases are reported in the province.

While according to Mardan police sources, 94 cases of child abuse were reported in Mardan region (Mardan, Nowshera, Swabi and Charsadda) within the first 9 months of 2019, including 48 rape and 46 attempts. The good thing is that Mardan police has arrested the accusers of 48 rape cases.

Child Sexual abuse is the issue of the entire world. It is also believed that this issue is emerged in recent times but actually it is the issue of centuries and still it is, but in different forms.

The question is that what is the logic behind targeting children mostly…?? The answer is simple because children are mentally and physically weak (voiceless & powerless), so they can be easily victimized.

Keeping in view the statistics, one can conclude that sexual abuse with children is our moral, social, religious, legal, and state failure, and therefore our children are not safe anywhere at any age

It is said that in Pakistan cases of sexual abuse has increased recently. May be, but actually I think that now its reporting has increased. May be it’s due to electronic, print and social media, which is reachablenowadays and that looks at the issues and report it.

One of the benefit of this constant reporting is that, Where the government and the society were not ready to accept the reality of this issue, now they are accepting the fact and the proof is that the affected families are reporting cases and Government machinery has also taken several steps in recent past with purpose to respond the situation.

Still, it is believed that only those cases of sexual abuse are reported in which children get missing or they are killed after being abused or they get injured, which have to go to the hospital for treatment, while apart from these three types sexual abuse is rarely reported.

There are a few important aspects of sexual abuse with children that require a lot of attention.

The first aspect is that up to 50 percent of Abusers those who sexually abused with children are acquaintance i.e. neighbors, teachers, shopkeepers etc.

The second dangerous aspect is that in most incidents are those in which children after being abused are killed so that there is no evidence of the incident.

The third aspect is that incidents have been reported with children up to one year, which is the most alarming situation.

The fourth aspect which experts called one of the root cause of this evilness is that those who are involved in sexual abuse with children says that they have also been abused in childhood.

The fifth tragic aspect is that in cases of sexual abuse with children, the closest people to the family have also been found involved

The sixth aspect is that children who are under the age of 18 have been found involved in child abuse cases as well

There are many other aspects as well related to Children, Abuser and Families.

Keeping in view the statistics, one can conclude that sexual abuse with children is our moral, social, religious, legal, and state failure, and therefore our children are notsafe anywhere at any age.

Cases are being reported daily, which are discussed on electronic, print and social media for a few days, the accuse is arrested.Severe punishment should be awarded such slogans are used. Then there is pin-drop silence, every one forget it, wait until the next case occurs and then it continuesin the same way and this cycle of the incidents of child sexual abuse is not culminating.

Because there is no enduring, integrated and systematized approach towards this issue from state and society to prevent child sexual abuse.

As far as the law, institutions and punishments are concerned, there is a great deal of truth in it technically, by resources and accessibility, but still the accused are arrested, sooner or later the offender gets a severe punishment, but there is no focus on preventing sexual abuse with children.

Parents and community at large should be more aware that sexual abuse is a reality that their child is not safe anywhere at any time.

The child himself needs to be at least so much to know that what is ‘good touch’ and what is bad touch’, a child should know If someone tries to touch him badly, then what should be the reaction of the child at that time…?? so how will they save themselves and come home and tell parents and parents should listen to them at least.

Parents should immediately report if any case occurs with the support of a local legal expert, while as the case reported the most relevant departments immediately respond and if we do not report it, or there is no response to the case it is against the best interest of the child and family, which again the right of a child violation.

There is a dire need of working with civil society, media and other stakeholders on priority basis to prevent the issue. The government and the civil society join hands to create extensive awareness among the key stakeholder’s children, parents and teachers. Material about how to protect oneself from abuse should be included in the curriculum in a culturally sensitive manner. Similarly, school can play a major role in spreading awareness as well keeping in view preventing the issue of child sexual abuse.

The writer is a Child Rights Activist