Protest against Kasur incident

LAHORE
Members of Pakistan Paediatric Association, Punjab, PAHCHAAN and Child Rights Movement expressed their deep anguish and concern on child abuse incident in Kasur, during a sit-in at Lahore Press Club on Thursday.
“It is depressing to note that these children were subjected to extreme form of abuse. It demonstrates the failure of law enforcement agencies and other institutions and a big question mark on the ability of state and society to protect its children from abuse, violence and exploitation” said Dr Naeem Zafar, PAHCHAAN president.
“Such incidents and abuse affect and severely compromise the development of children into useful and productive adults. We urge the government to investigate the heinous crime. The perpetrators and their protectors must be brought to justice and awarded exemplary punishment”, said Dr Asif Kaleem, president, Pakistan Pediatric Association, Punjab.
The participants demanded that the victims and their families must be provided required legal and moral support. They maintained that there would be an urgent need for psychological therapy and other necessary rehabilitation services. They demanded the federal and Punjab governments implement the National Plan of Action against child sexual abuse and exploitation.
“We demand all the provincial governments to develop and put in place a comprehensive child protection system so that children of Pakistan could grow and reach their full development potential in an environment free of abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation” said Zaman Sher, coordinator, Child Rights Movement. A large number of people from civil society participated in the sit-in.