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

LHRLA’s Madadgaar programme raises awareness about preventing sexual abuse among
school children in the Karachi area. The Child Rights and Abuse Committee of the PPA in
Peshawar conducts focused advocacy activities with government and professionals
throughout the country. Savera, in Lahore, conducts awareness-raising among target
communities, including boys working in prostitution, on sexually transmitted infections,
including HIV/AIDS. Its programme also raises awareness of sexual abuse.
Although the print media in Pakistan have been enthusiastic about reporting cases of child
sexual abuse and exploitation, the primary emphasis has been girls; little reference has been
made to boys. There has been concern that media reports are excessively sensational,
reporting sordid events such as gang rapes and child murders, rather than conscientiously
covering ‘commonplace’ incidents of abuse and exploitation. This approach reinforces the
public view that child sexual abuse is rare and extraordinary. In response, the government and
civil society groups have sought to increase media awareness, sensitivity and coverage of
child abuse and exploitation. The government’s National Commission for Child Welfare and
Development has designed and disseminated a code of ethics for media on reporting of
children’s issues, particularly the reporting of incidents of sexual violence. 368 Sahil has
developed a code of ethics for reporting on child sexual abuse and distributed over 3,000
copies to newspaper editors and journalists.
Media-Civil Society Interface, an initiative of Journalists for Democracy and Human Rights,
sensitizes journalists on confidential reporting of child abuse and exploitation cases and
mobilizes the media to report on abuse and exploitation. In 2006, the Sindh Journalists
Network with UNICEF support trained journalists in reporting violations against children.
Rozan, through its Aangan programme, mobilizes media focus on child sexual abuse through
articles in Urdu and English newspapers and magazines.
7.4.5 Prevention through outreach to vulnerable boys
Prevention of abuse and exploitation through outreach to vulnerable children, particularly
those living on the street, is conducted through drop-in centres in Pakistan’s main cities.
Vision, with support from Naz International, runs a drop-in centre in Lahore for boys and
men of alternative sexual identities, including boys working in prostitution. The drop-in
centre provides a safe space for boys to discuss their problems, get medical treatment and
receive training on safe sexual practices and prevention of abuse. 369 In Karachi and
Rawalpindi, the Azad Foundation has established drop-in centres for children living on the
street. The centres offer health care, recreational activities, non-formal education, meals,
bathing facilities and clothing. They also provide psychological assistance and crisis services
to children in trouble. LHRLA’s Madadgaar protection services centre in Karachi provides
similar services.
368 National Commission for Child Welfare and Development, 2007, ‘Pakistan’s consolidated third and fourth
periodic report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’.
369 ECPAT International and Pakistan Paediatrics Association, 2006, ‘Situational analysis report on prostitution
of boys in Pakistan (Lahore and Peshawar)’.
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