A complex issue like Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) can’t be solved until the public take interest in it. Unfortunately, the efforts required in policy making on this issue in both the public, private sectors are extremely lacking. The outrage that has currently gripped the Country, actually exposes the corrosion of our integrity as a society, as well as a state.
The media frenzy the rape and murder of six year old Zainab in Kasur has caused is certainly a shock. Despite having been an activist for several years, I have never seen such protests organized by individual activists, alliances or NGO’s against human right violations and sexual and gender based violence. Since I’m a relatively new user of social media, I am also amazed to see the number of keyboard warriors this issue has attracted on cyber space.
I would like to share a few things I have learnt, both through my professional life and as my ordeals as a young girl in this highly misogynistic country.
Firstly, Pakistani languages, including Urdu, do not have any words for terms like incest, rape, abuse, paedophilia, counselling and empathy. If there are any such words, most of the country is not aware of them. This lacking vocabulary contributes to our collective denial and behavioural patterns, which endorses the abuse of women and children. On top of that, these limitations of language make the simple act of filing a police report for such crimes unnecessarily tricky.
Secondly, keeping silent about violence and abuse should be seen as violence itself. Owing to the decades long struggle of certain passionate activists and cause-centric non-profits like Rozan, SACHET, Sahil, SPAARC, Bedari and Ahung silence about sexual abuse has been broken at different points in time in different geographical settings. It would be unfair not to acknowledge the support of some progressive duty-bearers within the government apparatus in different regimes and financial support of some international aid agencies. The positive contributions of civil society actors must not be forgotten and any future strategy should be based on best practices.
Pakistani languages, including Urdu, do not have any words for terms like incest, rape, abuse and paedophilia. This lacking vocabulary contributes to our collective denial and behavioural patterns, which endorse the abuse of women and children. Additionally, these limitations of language make the simple act of reporting such crimes unnecessarily tricky
There is a complete absence of any sort of support system for the survivors of abuse. The stigma attached with disclosures of sexual abuse needs to be discussed by all the stakeholders involved and society at large. This would require carefully challenging this region’s approved notions of honour. We are living in a society where young girls including mentally or physically disabled girls are frequent targets for sexual assault. Those who conceive as a result of rape often go through multiple abortions (known as D&C). The culprits usually are often the girls own fathers, uncles, brothers (real ones included) and other revered figures in the family. Rape remains one of the rarest crimes to be proven in a court of law. Hassle-free access to police, lawyers and courts is another issue here which merits a separate article.
The vast majority of the people in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan claim to be religiously devout, but life in this country has taught me that very few people in this country are truly God-Fearing. Islam’s religious edicts regarding humanity and mercy are widely ignored and violated. Power-structures and a patriarchy-friendly interpretation of religion, law and culture are valued and imposed. Sins and corruption does not embarrass the vast majority. In most cases, this majority is only worried about defamation and other consequences attached with their being caught committing these sins. Thus our political elites keep the masses poor, ignorant and helpless..
Sexual violence against women and children are endemic in Pakistan- the sooner we accept this, the better! The hypocrisy of those who matter has reached new heights in the wake of the latest Kasur tragedy. But can this be a new beginning and a new opportunity to ensure the protection of our women and children?
The writer is a veteran journalist and the recipient of the PTV Award of Excellence in 2001. She has also won the Fatima Jinnah Award for Social Work and was the first woman anchor for live morning and current affairs shows on PTV
Published in Daily Times, January 18th 2018.