Session on child abuse held

RawalpindiKThe Association of Business Professional and Agricultural Women (ABP&AW) organised a session on ‘Child Abuse’ at a local club. Awareness raising on different issues is an integral part of the Association’s activities in which various experts are invited over to discuss main issues regarding our society.

All the association members and guests from various walk of life attended the session. Session on child abuse was delivered by Sadia Hussain is Child Rights and Child Protection Expert. Ms. Sadia has conducted several research-work on the issues of children in Pakistan. Her basic degree is in Civil Engineering however keeping in view the need of educational development in Pakistan she pursued her Masters in Educational Leadership and Development.

ABP&AW Senior Vice President Rohma Azam briefly spoke about ABP&AW she said that the Association started off with a meager amount initially but now we are lending Rs25,000 to the women entrepreneurs who want to start their own business. The Association has 19 branches all over Pakistan. “Our small credit scheme has literally changed the lives of those women and they have become the earning member of their families and raising the standard of their living and as well as having the decision power in the family. Every month we invite certain experts on important issues and make our members aware of them. Awareness is best preventive care for any issue so that it can be managed well in time,” she said.

Sadia Hussain Child Rights expert, in the light of recent data about child rights exploitation and Child sexual abuse, explained the reasons and causes of Child sexual abuse. The main characteristics of both child sexual abuser and victim were described in her talk so that adults can identify the culprits and victims in community, institutions and home settings. Based on her work in the same field, she informed mothers, sisters and other female members present at the event, how they can positively contribute in saving their children from such harms. “Equal attention should be given to both boys and girls for protecting them against child sexual abuse. The taboo of talking about child sexual abuse should be broken. Mothers should play a key role in protecting their children from harms specially in extended family setup where children are more vulnerable and at risk of abuse by the people they respect and trust. Children should be the focus or the priority of any family. They should be educated in a very appropriate and careful manner about protecting themselves from such harms but the responsibility of protection should not lay only on children. It is adults who are responsible of their protection at all times,” she said.

Sadia Hussain explained the reasons and causes of child sexual abuse. The main characteristics of both child sexual abuser and victim were described in her talk so that adults can identify the culprits and victims in community, institutions and home. she informed mothers, sister’s and other female how they can positively contribute in saving their children from such harms.