KP govt asked to set up child protection system under relevant law

PESHAWAR: The Child Rights Movement (CRM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has expressed concern over the growing numbers of children’s sexual abuse cases in the province and demanded establishment of a child protection system.

The CRM Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a coalition of over 50 civil society organisations working for protection and promotion of child rights across the province, says a press release. Khursheed Bano, CRM coordinator, expressed concern over the recent child sexual abuse cases. She added that civil society keeps on highlighting such issues but unfortunately the state has failed to appreciate the seriousness of the situation. Khursheed Bano said the CRM had always demanded a child protection system of prevention and response under the KP Child Protection and Welfare Act 2010. Muhammad Ayub from Blue Veins said that child protection systems are made up of a set of components which, if properly coordinated, can work together to strengthen the protective environment around each child.

He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government needed to ensure a strong KP Child Protection Commission, and allocate enough funds to establish child protection units and child protection courts in all the 35 districts. Muhammad Ayub said the establishment of such units and courts were needed.

Imran Takkar of the Group Development Pakistan said the KP Child Protection and Welfare Act 2010 was a comprehensive law, while under the said law, a commission has also been established but regular quarterly meetings of the commission were not taking place. He added that there was a need for coordinated efforts preventing the issue of child sexual abuse. He said that parents and community at large should be aware that their children are not safe anywhere at any time.

Imran Takkar said that there is a dire need to work with civil society, media and other stakeholders on priority basis to prevent the issue. He said the government and civil society should join hands to raise awareness among the key stakeholders’ children, parents and teachers. Material about how to protect oneself from abuse should be included in the curriculum in a culturally sensitive manner. It was observed that schools can play a major role in spreading awareness as well as preventing the child abuse cases.