There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
— Nelson Mandela, Former President of South Africa
In 2015, our society’s soul was revealed to be as black and hollow as the abyss we’d thrown our children in. Although years of child abuse and oppression existed within Pakistan, the culmination of the most shocking child abuse case truly exposed the vices of this country. Last year, about 300 children of the Hussain Khan Wala village in Kasur District, Punjab were revealed to have been sexually abused and tortured by an organized group of barbarians. The most haunting part about this tragedy, however, was not the inhumane act and injustice that had taken place but the response, or lack thereof, of the people of Pakistan. Although many people expressed their horror on social media and similar mediums, the proportion of the population actually incited to act against this abuse is incredibly small. It was only nine days ago, and almost eight months after the news of the tragedy broke, that the Express Tribune reported about the Senate finally passing a bill against child abuse. Although this is a step in the right direction, Pakistan has a long way to go in securing child rights and protecting them from the horrors of sexual abuse.
Talking about child sexual abuse is a taboo in Pakistan. Despite the severe implications of the phenomenon, awareness about it is restricted because of the stigma attached to it. Sexual abuse is something off-bounds, which cannot be discussed in either public or private spaces because it is “shameful” and “indecent”. Sometimes religion is also thrown in the equation with obligations of “haya” (modesty) removing the topic from any discourse. This makes victims of abuse ten times more reluctant to speak out than. Even if the victims do raise their voice, they are often suppressed by their own families for fear that it would ruin their “honor”. This makes not only the victims but also the general public hesitant to act or speak up against such topics. Fear of being ostracized from social circles, or making someone else “uncomfortable”, or even getting a rather awkward scolding from one’s parents factor into the equation, and an otherwise concerned member of the society locks their tongue and moves. So not only do the victims need to come to terms with the event itself, but also deal with others trivializing or ignoring their emotions. Such social values have immense adverse consequences for Pakistan and particularly for its most important population – the children.
The stigmatized nature of the topic can be seen in even daily routines of a normal household. The channel is changed when news of harassment is being reported, saying words such as “sexually abused” is prohibited in conversation, and all such incidents are generally to be ignored. The average Pakistani turns a blind eye towards such incidents because they are simply not to be discussed. It is just like rape, or the transgender issue, or divorce or even minority rights. But there’s one additional thing: the victims here are children, individuals who cannot defend or protects their rights. That amplifies the magnitude of the repercussions by a thousand times. What is shameful, uncivilized, or immodest about speaking against sexual abuse? Isn’t that something a civilized, modest, respectable individual would do? To speak out something so inherently evil? Isn’t that the religious thing to do as well? Are we not speaking or acting against the defilement of our daughters’ (and sons’) haya? Are we not preserving this haya by making sure it doesn’t happen to anyone, anymore? The Prophet (peace be upon him) of Islam, the dominant and primary religion of Pakistan, himself urged Muslims to reject evil in the following hadith: “Whoever among you sees an evil action, and he is able to change it with his hand, then change it with his hand (by taking action); if he cannot, (do so) with his tongue then with his tongue (by speaking out); and if he cannot then with his heart (by hating it and feeling that it is wrong), and that is the weakest of faith.” (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1, Book 5, H1275).
What other excuses will we put forward to justify our ignorance of such a heartbreaking and pressing subject? The truth is, Pakistan has run out of excuses but certainly not out of cowardice. Our inclination towards conformity is so deeply ingrained we will go to any lengths to adhere to it. Had we adopted the same determination and commitment when it comes to battling global epidemics like child sexual abuse, we may have contributed something to making this world a better place.
Having painted the picture as it is, it would be untrue to say the entirety of the Pakistani nation sits in complacent silence. Organizations like the Child Empower Association of Pakistan (CEAP) are struggling against violations of children rights while simultaneously attempting to educate the Pakistani society. Other organizations, including Sahil and Rehel, continue working towards the same cause. Many other individuals recognize the problem and are, if nothing else, addressing it. However, the majority of the population is still trapped in the same boundaries of social “values” and conformity. It is imperative that those educated help the less privileged understand these issues, and all of us come together in fighting this phenomenon which is not just identified in a particular tragedy, such as Kasur, but in the everyday harassment that happens with children. It is a global epidemic, a public health crisis that needs immediate attention and action from the public and the government. We can start by implementing laws, such as voting in favor of the bill against child abuse in the assembly. At a local level, we need to start working within our own space to remove the social stigma attached to this issue, while also doing our part in reaching out to the affected masses. This can be done through volunteering, donating or even simply educating those around us.
What happened in Kasur, and what happens in many households that goes unnoticed, should seize us by the soul and choke us until something is done about it. Instead, we vent on social media, or pretend nothing happened, and our conscience is gratified. What we forget is that the destruction of our youth in such a vicious manner translates into a destruction of this nation’s future. It is time this country unhinges itself from the shackles of standards that has destroyed it and stands up for its children. In the eternal words of Mitch Albom, “Youth, like pristine glass, absorbs the prints of its handlers.” Make sure the marks we leave on our youth make the world a better and not a bitter place.
