A society that fails to protect its children silently surrenders its moral ground. In Pakistan, child abuse remains a persistent and deeply unsettling reality that continues despite the presence of strict legal safeguards. The state has, over time, introduced significant legislation to address this crisis. The Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Act, 2020, was enacted to ensure immediate response in cases of missing children, promising swift recovery efforts through coordinated mechanisms. Likewise, the penal code prescribes severe punishments for sexual offences against minors and other regulations also deal with online exploitation of children.
However, the persistence of such crimes reveals a troubling gap between legislation and implementation. Delayed justice, underreporting and societal stigma continue to shield perpetrators. Too often, cases are silenced within households or diluted by weak enforcement, leaving victims unheard and unprotected. The issue is not the absence of laws, but the failure to translate them into action. Until legal mechanisms function effectively, the promise of justice will remain hollow.
Aiman Naveed
Sialkot
