SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION OF BOYS IN SOUTH ASIA A ...

developed. The NPA was integrated with the Pakistan’s National Plan of Action on Children
in 2006.
7.4.2 Monitoring and data collection
A number of NGOs in Pakistan monitor the sexual abuse and exploitation of children and
women, primarily using newspaper and police reports. These include the Child Rights and
Abuse Committee of the PPA in Peshawar, Sudhar/War Against Rape in Lahore, Lawyers for
Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA) in Karachi and Bedari, Rozan and Sahil in
Islamabad. Madadgaar, a protection services centre for children and women established by
LHRLA, documents cases of abuse and maintains a database on missing children.
7.4.3 Legislative changes
LHRLA, AGHS Legal Aid Cell in Lahore and the Society for the Protection of the Rights of
the Child (SPARC) in Islamabad advocate with the public and the government to reform
legislation to better protect trafficked and abused children. SPARC and other legal NGOs
advocate with legislators to promote child-friendly justice procedures and strengthen the
legislation to protect children from abuse.
7.4.4 Prevention through advocacy and awareness-raising
In South Asia, Pakistan has been a forerunner in conducting national and community
awareness-raising on child sexual abuse, despite the powerful cultural mores that discourage
discussion of sexuality and the critique of family and community relationships with children.
The NGOs Sahil, Rozan, Struggle for Change, SPARC, Bedari and others have undertaken
numerous innovative efforts to bring awareness of sexual abuse to families, communities and
government. Due to the sensitive nature of the issues and the tradition of separating males and
females in Pakistan, these efforts have been generally conducted from a gender perspective,
with groups of male and female children and among parents, primarily with mothers’ groups.
In Islamabad, Sahil trains teachers, mothers’ groups and children on identifying and
preventing sexual abuse. It published the first awareness booklets on the subject in Pakistan.
SACH conducts awareness programmes for teachers, parents and children on sexual abuse
and domestic violence. Bedari uses street theatre to raise awareness among communities.
Rozan’s Aangan programme is directed at improving children’s emotional health, with
particular focus on child sexual abuse. The programme conducts workshops on emotional
health and sexual abuse for parents, children and the general public and offers technical
training and sensitization workshops for professionals, including doctors, teachers and
community workers. The innovative Aangan Long Distance Volunteer Programme trains and
mobilizes volunteers throughout Pakistan to distribute flyers and reading materials on sexual
abuse to communities. It also trains volunteers to write articles, collect data on sexual abuse
and refer clients to services.
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