Let us take the courage to save the lives of our children in every way: By Sadia Wali
Rape,
murder of minor Zainab sparks barbarity. We need to raise our voice against
this severe brutality. My eyes are clouded with tears, every time I see her
innocent face. Violence against women and girls—including rape and child sexual
abuse, murder, honor killings, acid attacks have become routine news now. In
many countries these are considered as criminal offense punishable by law. Over
the years, child sexual assaults and killings in Pakistan have been severely
neglected.
The
report of child abuse (2016) by Sahil NGO identifies Pakistan as the 11th
country of the world with highest rate of child abuse/ sexual assault with 2500
cases each year and 3rd most dangerous country in the world for women. 4,139
children were sexually abused and assaulted in Pakistan in 2016. This figure
shows that approximately 11 children were abused every day in 2016. The report
said that children between the age groups of 6-10 and 11-15 were the victims of
sexual abuse and assault. Such cases were mostly reported in Punjab (2,627).
Kasur, adjoining city to the provincial capital of Punjab Province, has become
the center of massive child sexual abuse since 2014 and 2015, estimating over
3500 cases of child molestation solely in 2014, of which 67% were reported in
rural areas. In Sindh, reported cases were 987.
156 cases of sexual abuse were reported in Islamabad, 141 in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, 166 in Balochistan and 9 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
As per Child Protection, in 2017 there has
been 1764 cases of child abuse across Pakistan and 12 cases of rape and murder
of minor girls all aged between 5 to 8 years in Kasur. The recent tragic case
of Zainab’s kidnapping, rape and murder is one of these 12 cases.
The body
of seven-year-old Zainab was found in a rubbish dump several days after she
went missing. She had been raped and strangled. The minor girl, a resident of
Road Kot area of Kasur, had gone missing on January 4 when she went to a
tuition centre but never returned. At the time of the incident, her parents were in Saudi Arabia where they
had gone to perform Umrah. Zainab's body
was found in a garbage pile near Kashmir Chowk five days after her
disappearance. The initial postmortem report of the minor stated that she was
strangled to death after being raped multiple times.
Grief
and anger prevails among the people throughout the country. Angry demonstrators
demand serious measures to eradicate women harassment and provide speedy
justice and respectful care to women who have been victim of this in humane
act.
HBWWF rallies
against Kasur incident held a rally in Karachi. HBWWF general secretary Zehra
Khan along with women of different walks
of life participated. The speakers said that the Kasur incident was continuity
of the exploitation that women and children have been suffering for long.
Neither the state nor the society played its role seriously to end the abuse.
Now it has become a custom. The speakers urged the heads of the administrative
and political institutions to take up comprehensive policy to end the abuse in
society.
This is
the largest child abuse / child rape case in the history of Pakistan that has
come into main stream media. There have been other incidents which were never
spotlighted. The murder of Tania Khaskheli in Dadu, the naked parade incident in
Dera Ismail Khan, five-year old girl raped and killed in Larkana in November
14, 2017. In Multan city, a 12-year-old
girl was raped by a teenager in a field in july 2017. Hundreds of women
continue to suffer this fate each year. A similar incident occurred in Iran
last year where a seven-year-old, Atena Aslani was assaulted and killed. The Irani government openly hanged the
assaulter in front of a large crowd. We demand the same from our Supreme court.
The failure of government to provide speedy justice to the victims depict that
our law, constitution and law enforcing agencies have failed in protecting
children.
Nobel
Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai said she was “heartbroken” by the news of
Zainab's killing, saying: “This has to stop. Government and the concerned
authorities must take action.”
"The
condemnable and horrific rape and murder of little Zainab exposes once again
how vulnerable our children are in our society. We have to act swiftly to
punish the guilty & ensure that our children are better protected.”
opined group of civil society
organizations and child protection organizations.
The
Judiciary, lawyers and human rights organizations have also condemned this
severe atrocious act. According to them, there are laws but not strictly promulgated.
The new Sections 292 A, 292 B and 292 C, 328 A, 369 A, 377 A and 377 B have
been incorporated in Pakistan Panel Code, 1860, making child pornography and
exposure to seduction, a punishable crime. The culprit will be punishable by
seven years in prison and a fine of Rs0.7 million. To undertake this task,
existing laws are required to be harmonized with the UNCRC to effectively
initiate requisite actions for meeting the standards set forth under the UNCRC.
They
urged government to develop policy document, a plan of action and proper mechanism to curb this menace.
Culprits should be taken to task. The state institutions need to fulfill their responsibility
to provide justice, security and maintaining law and order in the country.
Parents,
educationists and people belonging to various professions have demanded justice
for the Kasur girl and others who fell prey to sexual predators in the society.
They stress over widespread awareness of child-related laws and also facilitate
parents and children to prevent sexual abuse. To propagate this awareness,
educational institution should include sexual harassment topics in their
curriculum.
The
nonprofit organization, From Darkness to Light has mentioned essential steps to
protect children from sexual abuse.
Only 1
in 10 children report the abuse themselves. 22% of abused children are under 8
years old. The average age of abused children is 9. Most likely, you know a
child who either has been or is being abused. Those children who keep the abuse
a secret are more likely to suffer psychological, emotional, social, and/or
physical problems that will most likely follow them into adulthood.
Parents should know a child who has been
abused. The abusers are mostly not "strangers," but are our friends
and family members. Those who sexually abuse children choose the places where they
have easy access to children such as clubs or schools. Always look for group
situations to involve your child in rather than placing your child alone with
one adult. Make sure parents observe or interrupt activities at any time. Parents
should unexpectedly make a visit when their child is alone with any adult!
Children
often keep abuse a secret, but barriers can be broken down by talking openly
about it. It is imperative to understand why children don't tell. Children who
do disclose sexual abuse often tell a trusted adult other than a parent.
Therefore, training for people who work with children in any capacity is very
important .Children will often "shut down" and refuse to tell more if
you respond emotionally or negatively. Talk openly with your child. Teach your child about her body,
about what abuse is and as age-appropriate about sex. Teach her words that help
her discuss sex comfortably with you. Listen with patience. Children have a
hard time sharing troubling events with parents. Stay calm and follow a plan if your child reports
abuse.
As a
woman I deeply feel the pain of the mother who lost her precious child. This is
the Islamic society where we are living: where the lives of a mother, sister
and daughter are at risk. Who will guarantee and safeguard our lives? There
seem to be no laws, no rules and it seems that we are living in a jungle among
beasts. This is the time we must stand up!
Archbishop
Arshad said that the whole nation weeps for this sin. It is a sin that shames
us. Let us find the courage needed to take all necessary measures and to
protect in every way the lives of our children, so that such crimes may never
be repeated.”
The writer works as Assistant Editor at Innovative Solutions,Karachi. She can be contacted at sadiawali@hotmail.com
