Child rape is bringing into play an innocent minor for sexual appeasement or exploit a child to other sexual activities like exposure to sex organs and using a younger one to make child pornography. Child sexual abuse is desperately increasing in Pakistan. It harms a child emotionally and physically. An NGO based at Lahore, Sahil, assembled a statistics report for child rape between January 2019 to June 2019. The report revealed that almost seven children are sexually abused daily in Pakistan, other data numbers 575 boys and 729 girls subjected to sexual abuse in various ways. The report sorted 139 child rapes by a person and 378 cases of abduction. Other horrible numbers are 153 of buggery (oral or anal sex-sodomy) and 88 gang sodomy cases, which involved children, gang rapes hurt 46 children. It was not just cramped here, but rapists killed four girls and 12 boys after sexual assault.
These are not surprising figures as we are watching such events more often in electronic media. But it is a pity that the government in Pakistan as well as people not taking this social issue seriously. The need is that we should take steps to avoid such incidents further. We need to identify pedophiles in our society. I shall discuss some child abusement issues in Pakistan and then shall find the reasons that are increasing the number of child abuse incidents in Pakistan.
300 Children’s Sexually Abused at Kasur
This scandal raised in 2015 in Kasur District. It came to know that from 2006 to 2014, more than 280 children were sexually abused in a village Hussain Khanwala. Shockingly, it also came to know that there was some political involvement in the happening of incidents. It was blamed that MPA of PMLN Malik Ahmad Saeed Khan and Kasur Police were involved and to cover up the cases. Most victims of sexual abusement were boys, and agencies found that it was an organized group of criminals that make videos of child pornography and sol it to different porn sites. The group was also blackmailing the relatives or parents of the victims. And one of the parents reached a reporter and journalist broke the news in media. Police arrested 12 men are, and the case was registered in Anti-Terrorism Court Lahore, but the charges could not be proved, and culprits were released because of lack of evidence. This incident left us with many questions; Are not our children safe in Pakistan? Is child pornography not a crime?
Rape and Murder of Zainab in Kasur
A six years old girl, Zainab Ansari, was kidnapped when she was on the way back home after learning the Holy Quran in Kasur. After she went missing, Zainab’s family and relatives searched for her days and nights, and they found a corpse in the piles of garbage. Later, it was confirmed that Zainab was raped before being killed. Her culprit Imran Ali was arrested after matching DNA. More subsequently, it was found that Imran Ali raped eight girls, including Zainab. He even took part in the protest for Zainab shamelessly. Imran confessed all of his crimes and sentenced to death in Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore, on 17 October 2018. This incident left us thinking; why the pedophiles are rampant in Pakistan?
Child Rape Cases in Madrassas
In Pakistan, we send our children to Islamic education in Madrassas. But, many cases are reported when teachers or even senior boys involved in abusing the junior boys at Madrassa. Mostly boys are the victims in Madrassa, and its big reason is that they reside in Madrassa. Though this should not happen in such a sacred place and by the people who understand Islam. Why is this abuse prevailing in Islamic schools?
Consequences of Sexual abusement on a Child
When a child is hurt by sexual abusement, he or she is physically, mentally, and emotionally disturbed. Your child is in trauma, and he or she feels guilt. At this time, your child needs the parents most and seeks support from you. Following, I have listed some consequences of child abusement:
I. Emotionally traumatized: Children will face a deep trauma inside and feels guilty for what happened to them. Other negative feelings of dismay, rage, hate, and helplessness can overshadow them. They become alone and do not trust relationships.
II. Physically scared: A child can suffer head trauma or even death after sexually abused.
III. Mentally disturbed: A Sexually abused child is always anxious and depressed. He or she may experience flashbacks of the incident and become sleepless with a constant fear of people.
IV. Ill Behavior: A suffered child, if not treated well, may found in self-harm activities and can attempt suicide. Otherwise, he or she will be found using drugs and criminal activities. They can be even domestically so violent.
I have briefly discussed some effects of abuse on a child. However, still, their intensity may vary with different factors like age, severeness of the violence, the relationship between the culprit and victim, and how often a victim was abused.
Factors Responsible for Child-abusing
We discussed three different child rape cases in the above. All incidents occurred in different circumstances. We can not say that only one element is responsible for a child rape case, but various factors come together when there is an incident.
I. Pedophiles: These are the adults who are sexually attracted to children. These persons still are called pedophiles if they do not commit this evil crime. But it is important to learn that not all pedophiles are involved in child rape, and not all perpetrators are pedophiles.
II. Child pornography: It is also known as child sexual abuse images or videos and banned in many countries, but still, we can find it on the internet. Pornography has become a source to earn money.
III. Lack of sex education: Pakistan is a country where sex education is taboo. Parents do not educate their children about such elements. It can help our society to combat this evil and can help our children to abstain from such incidents.
IV. Access to the pornography sites: According to the data released by Google, Pakistan topped in searching and watching pornography sites. All blame is not just for the public, and our government did not take any steps to ban these sites. What can a Pakistani do when a porn video pops up while student searching for assignment topic. Inappropriate pornography adds are frequent on different websites. These videos and adds having adverse impacts on the mind and increase curiosity. The government of Pakistan must take immediate measures to ban these sites.
V. The rule of law is absent: The rule of law is not prevailing in Pakistan. Anyone who commits a crime has a view that no one will ask him. People do not report cases in the police station because they believe that police will bring more trouble to the family.
VI. Lack of confidence to speak up: If someone’s child suffered from such abuse, first of all, the family would try to hide this. They fear losing honor or respect, and this encourages perpetrators. People are too weak to speak up about this brutality, and they feel ashamed of it.
VII. Intimacy with close relatives: It is reported that culprits in 70% of cases were close relatives than unknowns. Commonly, children are frank with relatives, but if they do not know about boundaries, then it will be a problem.
Learn Some Preventive Measures to Fend Off a Child from Sexual Abusement
Every parent is worried about their children. One of these fears is that their child may not suffer from sexual harassment. When children are growing up, parents teach them different things. They teach them how to tie shoelaces, cross the road, and how to bring discipline in life. But do not tell the children about body safety, especially in the case of a country. Parents are hesitant to talk about private body parts and body safety with their children. This ignorance causes a lot of harm to children. You should talk to children about it before it is too late. The following are some suggestions and preventive measures for your child.
I. Adopt a friendly attitude with your children: It is very important. Parents should adopt a friendly attitude with their children so that your young ones do not hesitate to talk about anything.
II. Parents should be involved in their children’s lives: Give maximum time to your children and show interest in their activities. It will help you to know better about your children and can easily identify any change if it happens.
III. Talk about body parts with your children: It is not too early to talk about body parts with your children; instead, it is better in his or her favor. Use some proper words about body parts so that it becomes comfortable for both child and parent to interact like using the word “bottom” for the body part between legs.
IV. Give your children a lesson that certain body parts are private: Once you have talked about body parts with your children, now it is time to teach them about private body parts. Tell them nobody is allowed to touch or see your private body parts. But Mama and Papa can see them naked and reach them for cleaning or body massage. Teach them that other people inside or outside the house must see them with clothes on; otherwise, it is immoral. Explain to your children that a doctor can see their body for a medical check-up in the presence of parents.
V. Guide your children about body margins: Tell the children that other people should not touch your body, especially private body parts. Neither he or she should touch others’ bodies. Even if someone tells you to do it, your children should not do it. And if anyone forces them, they should immediately tell parents.
VI. Interact with other people or caregivers in your child’s life: As your child grows old, he or she has more people in his or her life. They can be teachers, classmates, street fellows, team fellows, or other colleagues with them he or she plays in the park. Parents should communicate with these people so that they can know about the company of their child if anything terrible happens to a child. They can figure it out quickly.
VII. Instruct your children that no one should take a photo of their private body parts: Some culprits who are sexually attracted to children also take pictures of a naked child and trade it online. Explain to them that no one should take their nude picture ever, and you have to obey this strictly.
VIII. Discuss some incidents with your children: We can hear news about different events on electronic media. Different TV channels cover violence. If some news of child abusement comes across, you can discuss it with children and know about their views. Ask questions to your child like he or she heard about it earlier? Or someone tells about it anything ever? This conversation will make your child that it is a thing to discuss. God forbid, if it happens to your child’s surroundings or them, it will be easy for a child to speak about it up.
IX. Give your children a lesson to get rid of the uncomfortable situation: First of all, teach your children to say no, if someone is trying to touch their body. If children are too shy to say no, show them that they can excuse an adult that you have to leave or go to pee. These are some words that a child can use if he or she feels that something is wrong or feels uncomfortable with an adult.
X. Make your child speak up: Train your children that if something terrible is happening and he or she is feeling uncomfortable or unsafe, then immediately speak about it and do not fear. And parents won’t let happen anything terrible to them.
XI. Make some code words with your children: Teach your child some code words and how to use it if he or she feels unsafe. Tell your children that they can use these words anytime when feeling insecure, whether at home or outside.
XII. Guide children about body secrets: Some culprits may threat a child that if he or she tells it anybody about abuse, then the child will be in trouble. Politely explain to your child that body secrets are not right. If anyone forcibly asks them to hide it, then you must tell it to parents. They won’t let anything happen to you, and you will be safe.
XIII. Tell your children that go around with rules even with other children: Your child must concern these rules and apply it. Explain to your child that these rules are not only to put among adults but also other children
Hopefully, it will help parents, and I can not claim that it will remove this evil from our society. Your children are always at risk, but it will minimize it. We must educate our children and speak up if it occurs.
Role of Government
The federal government has the Pakistan Penal Code Act and Child Protection Act 2018 to protect a child from any violence or abusive act. All other provincial governments also made laws like Punjab Destitute and Neglected Children Act 2004, Sindh Child Protection Authority Act 2011, Balochistan Child Protection Act 2016, and the government of KPK has established Child Protection and welfare commission. All these measures can not decrease child abusement but not applied in its true essence. And governments are failed in the prevention of such incidents
Nonprofit Organizations for Child Protection in Pakistan
There are many local and international NGOs for child protection in Pakistan, such as SPARC, Sahil, UNICEF, Child’s Rights Movements, Save the Children, Azad Foundation, Voice of Children, Idara Aaghosh and many others. These NGOs have increased in numbers but failed to provide services for child protection. It seems that these organizations are interested in funds only. They have the responsibility to create awareness in people and educating them about sexual abuse in proper manners, which are acceptable by society.
Final Words
It was not easy to learn and write about child rape in Pakistan. We have seen news on media or read in newspapers about it. Unfortunately, the number of suspects and victims are increasing every year, but no satisfactory action was taken. All are found in black and white only. People also need to educate themselves and their children. So that we can make through it.