Combating child abuse: Ministry plans consultation to devise strategy

Islamabad: Federal Ministry of Human Rights has planned to conduct a two-day consultation on National Plan of Action (NPA) for Children 2006 to review the chapter on child abuse and to develop PC-1 for allocation of resources.

The decision was made in the meeting of the Working Group on Child Abuse and Protection held under the Chair of the Secretary, Ministry of Human Rights Rabiya Javeri Agha. The objective of the meeting was to discuss and develop a comprehensive strategy to combat the issue of child abuse in the country. The meeting was attended by the senior representatives of Provincial Home, Social Welfare and Child Protection and Welfare Bureaus and civil society organisations. At federal level, PEMRA, CADD Division, ICT Police, Ministry of Education and Training also participated in the meeting. The Secretary apprised that child abuse is the physical, sexual or emotional maltreatment or neglect of a child or children. “It is covered under various legislations in Pakistan. In the wake of 18th Constitutional Amendment, the subject of minors has been transferred to the provinces,” she said.

She also added that respective departments may effectively implement the Criminal Law (Second Amendment) Act, 2016 and other relevant laws to combat child abuse to make it non-compoundable and non-bail able offence.