Child courts

Child abuse in Pakistan has become a silent epidemic that rips apart many lives and futures even though the prevention of child abuse is supposed to be safeguarded by law. According to the data, thousands of children are abused every year and many cases are not even reported. This situation urgently requires the entire society to raise its voice collectively. The crisis demands a change in the attitude of society as well as more effective child-protective mechanisms. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior has just approved the long-awaited Child Courts Bill, which is a positive step.

It will now be possible to deliver timely judgments in child abuse cases and provide safe environments for children in judicial processes. But without proper implementation, this will not really offer any safety or justice to the children. To fully address the issue, better reporting mechanisms are a must, agency coordination needs to be encouraged, and a unified national database has to be implemented for monitoring such abuse cases. Along with this, victim support systems, that include trauma-focused counseling and financial help, are much required for rehabilitation.

Maria Hameed

Karachi