When the girl child is viewed as a lesser mortal and children are violated with alarming frequency, it is time to concede that the rot in society runs deep. While incidents of child abuse, rape and murder mount across the country, the nation refuses to rise in anger.
On the day I sat down to write this piece about a political leader’s objection to a woman’s clothing, this paper’s front page carried a photograph of doctors at Ganga Ram Hospital protesting the administration’s attempts to bury the alleged rape of a five-year-old girl. A member of
ISLAMABAD: Thirteen-year-old Asim* was quieter than usual when he returned to his home in Jhelum from a motorcycle mechanic’s workshop after completing his first day as a chotu – a term widely used for apprentices. His father, a rickshaw driver, noticed but casually asked about his day at his
Expanding the Women’s Rights through Judicial Jurisprudence” is a landmark two-volume book that explores the role of the apex judiciary in Pakistan in recognizing and enforcing women’s rights. Volume 1 focuses on rape and women’s right to inheritance, while Volume 2 addresses domestic violence and child marriage. The
Tech Platforms Used by Online Child sexual abuse offenders is a study released by Helsinki-based child rights NGO which provides alarming insights into the technology platforms frequently used by online child sexual abuse offenders. The research involved surveying over 30,000 active offenders and reveals significant information to combat
The Annual Report 2023-2024 of NCRC provides a comprehensive overview of the organization’s functions, highlighting their 5 Es Approach, the launch of a 3-year strategic plan, and the establishment of strategic partnerships. The report then delves into their notable progress in addressing crucial issues such as child labor
“State of Human Rights in 2023” is a report of Human Right Commission of Pakistan which provides a comprehensive overview of the human rights situation in Pakistan during the specified year at federal and provincial levels. The report highlights various issues such as violations of freedom of expression,
Several people glorify different forms of abusive behaviour by parents to discipline children, despite the existence of non-abusive alternatives that work well. When asked about the long-term consequences of such abuse, they are unaware at best or dismissive at worst. Dismissive answers can be as simple as `we
April is recognised as the Sexual Assault Awareness Month globally. In Pakistan, though, sexual awareness remains a controversial topic and it is often falsely equated with promoting immorality and indecency. In reality, it is to the contrary and sexual awareness plays a pivotal role in preventing sexual violence,
IT was on Ashura, Aug 19, 2021, when nine year-old Priya Kumari went missing. Just before her disappearance or abduction she had been happily helping her father a syncretic Hindu who runs a sabeel every year in Muharram in Sangrar, a small town near Sukkur serve sherbet to
Mrs Arshad’s son, Aalyan, was subjected to bullying at a private school when he was 14 years old. ‘My child was traumatised to the extent that he refused to go back to school, and for two years we have been homeschooling him,’ she reveals. He could not sleep
Laila* first met Adeel* at a fine dining restaurant along the coastline of Karachi city, after eight months of online dating on Instagram. She was then 20, he 21. The two talked for hours as the golden sun set, meeting the horizon of the sea. Laila described Adeel