Let’s Stand Against Cruelty Of Violence Against Children: PCPB Chief

News Desk

Lahore: The cases of violence against children and physical abuse of child labour are increasing day by day, and serious efforts are required to prevent this widespread prevalence of child labour, child trafficking, and physical torture of victims, said Punjab Child Protection Bureau Chairperson Sarah Ahmed.

Sara further said that the bureau is making efforts to provide protection to children working in hazardous environments and those who are victims of domestic violence, but we need support from all the relevant stakeholders to prevent these issues.

The Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) in collaboration with the Punjab Child Protection Bureau held a press conference in Lahore to highlight the severity of the situation of child abuse and child labour, and to demand justice for Rizwana– an underage domestic worker who was allegedly brutally abused by her employer the wife of a civil judge– and Fatima, who was allegedly raped and murdered by a peer in Sindh.

SSDO Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbassaid that the Chief Justice of Pakistan still hasn’t taken suo motu notice as the minor was working in a civil judge’s home and departmental action should have been taken against him.

Syed Kausar further added that we’ve often seen that even if an accused is arrested, no actual conviction is ever made. It needs to be ensured that the ones responsible for these crimes should be held accountable for their actions and actually punished to the full extent of the law under the Prevention of Trafficking Act 201.

Director highlighted that according to Section 7 of the act, the court may not consider the consent of the victim, parents, or guardian’ as a defense to employing children under forced labour.

She also demands that a member of the child protection bureau or some child rights experts be included in the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) investigating the Rizwana case.

Child rights Activist Nadia Jameelhas drawn attention to the Fatima Fariro case, where a 10-year-old girl was allegedly tortured to death by her employer– a local peer (spiritual leader) named Asad Shah Jilani, in Ranipur Town near Sindh’s Khairpur City.

This heinous crime is a reminder of the darkness that still exists in our society, Jameeel said, adding that we must unite and demand justice for Rizwana, Fatima and all the innocent victims who suffer in silence.