ISLAMABAD - Carrying forward its efforts against child abuse in the country, the Federal Ombudsman has constituted four task forces with a mandate to provide psycho-social aid, to bring legal reforms, train police and sensitise the society.
The creation of task forces was in pursuant to the recommendations made in a report compiled by a panel formed by the Ombudsman in the aftermath of Zainab rape-cum-murder case took place in Kasur last year.
The decision was made in a meeting by Wafaqi Mohtasib held at Lahore with Parliamentarians of the Punjab Assembly to introduce reforms in the contemporary laws, seeking legislators active support for introducing the legal amendments, Commissioner for Children and Focal Person on Child Abuse of Federal Ombudsman Syeda Viqar-un-Nisa told APP Sunday. She said that four task forces would be notified next week.
Various Non-governmental organisation including Sahil and SOS Village would be taken on board for technical assistance while United Nation International Children’s Emergency Fund was being approached for financial backstopping.
She said that the first task force, to be comprising five members was meant for early establishment of one stop facilitation center in Kasur for counseling of victims and their families.
“Psycho-social and rehabilitation aid are imperative to retrieve a child abuse victim from such mental agony as most of affected children reemerged as child abuser,” she said.
She said that second task force was agreed by Minister for Women Development Punjab Ashfia Riaz Fatiana in the last meeting which was aimed at pushing a Bill pertaining to massive legal reforms in prevailing laws and was likely to finalise next week.
Third task force would raise awareness among society and train teachers, students and girl scouts to beat such attempt without carrying a weapon. She said that the last task force would educate the police regarding child sensitive investigation, peace building and community policing.
A monitoring team of Parliamentary Standing Committee has also been suggested by the Ombudsman to monitor the progress by the task forces, the focal person added.
Enlightening about the legal reforms, also suggested in a report titled ‘Mapping of Issues and Response to Sexual Violence Against Children’, she said that the reforms encompassed enactment of a new law to ensure provision of psycho-social support to every victim and minor accused, during custodial period at expense of State.
It also sought amendments in existing law regarding strict and explicit prohibition of exonerating accused of such offences, suggesting intervention of State to pursue the matter despite offering of pardon from aggrieved party.
The reforms also involved amendment in provisions of Criminal Procedural Code to fix six-month time frame for deciding cases relating to child abuse, besides establishment of child protection courts, the focal person explained.
Deliberating on the overall performance on the issue, the focal person said that the Ombudsman was mandated to diagnose, investigate, redress and rectify any injustice done to a person through maladministration.
So, International commitments of the Government of Pakistan and law of the State obligated the State authorities to take special measures for the protection of children in Pakistan, he added.