Pakistan News And Discussion-10

[Naresh]

[center]<b><span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Scarred for life</span></b> <!--emo&tupid--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pakee.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pakee.gif' /><!--endemo-->[/center]

<b>The government, according to the minister of state for information, intends to implement a national plan of action that will focus on eradicating sexual exploitation of children.</b> According to the minister all available resources are being utilised for the provision of healthcare, free education and food to children, besides financial and technical support to the provincial governments. <b>Child sexual abuse involving girls and boys includes numerous heinous crimes such as abduction, molestation, rape and/or sodomy, gang rape and murder. These details, that are most disturbing to say the least, are important because we tend to overlook the magnitude of the problem and the various ways in which innocent children are traumatised, and in most cases scarred for life. Further, empirical evidence suggests that those who are abused are likely to become child molesters themselves.</b>

The issue remains neglected and is not comprehensively documented. <b>However, some NGOs are doing good work in the field and figures collected by two -- the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) and Sahil – can be quoted to highlight the alarming prevalence of child abuse. According to them, nearly 2000 incidents of child abuse were reported in 2003. On average this meant that five children were reported to be sexually abused every day -- and it should be kept in mind that these statistics only scratch the surface.</b> social taboos associated with this issue, due to which the child is often afraid and ashamed to even tell his or her parents or close relatives, <b>it would be fair to assume that majority of the abuse and exploitation goes unreported. Also, the figures for, say, 2006 would in all probability be far higher compared to three years ago.</b>

Child abuse is a worldwide phenomenon and is by no means exclusive only to Pakistan. However, what is lacking in this country is acceptance that it is more prevalent than most of us would like to admit – and it is that attitude that <b>hinders the formulation of any policy to check such abuse and punish child molesters. As for where such abuse can happen, again going by published reports, it is not something that happens only in one's home. It has taken place in schools, places of worship, madressahs, parks, shops and even graveyards.</b> The point is that children are susceptible to such abuse across class and economic divisions. <b>Also the abuse does not have to be of a personal nature and sometimes manifests itself in a commercial manner : e.g. prostitution, pornography and child trafficking.</b> One way of combating it could be to use the help of the ulema and by having in a place a support and counselling system so that victims do not hesitate to speak up. Also, and equally importantly, social attitudes need to change so that a society as conservative as ours does not frown on the victims and instead stands up to support them. One can only remain optimistic that the government's efforts will be sincerely sustained and effective even if it cannot cover the expanse of the issue, because any amount of deterrence or some form of penalisation will go a long way in saving our children from this unimaginable terror

Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->