By

Laraib Ehsan

Dialogue Tue 07 2026

A Nation Cannot Prosper While Its Children Suffer

At what point does a society fail its future? Can a country claim to uphold law, justice, and morality when its children ,the most vulnerable and innocent members, are left without protection, without voice, and without dignity? These questions are not only moral but also legal, as both international and domestic law clearly recognize the rights of children’s safety, care, and development. Children are those who are described as blessings, the hope of parents, courage, and the future of a nation. Childhood ,the time period where one is free from fear, stress, and depression and lives freely and happily, a time to make dreams, hopes, courage to learn, and grow with confidence. But for many children, especially in developing societies, this reality does not exist. Poverty, neglect, abuse, and weakness of institutional support deprive them of their fundamental rights and destroy their potential before it can emerge.

Child abuse is not accidental; it can be both intentional and unintentional. It represents a failure on the part of parents, guardians, and institutions, leading to physical harm, emotional trauma, mental illness, sexual abuse, exploitation, and even death. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, childhood is entitled to special care and assistance. According to the (Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, CAPTA of 2020), child abuse is defined as “any recent act or failure to act on the part of parents or caretakers, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation.” There are different types of abuse, including physical abuse and neglect. Physical abuse involves acts like as kicking, hitting, punching, and burning, which may result in injuries ranging from minor harm to severe fractures or even death. Neglect happens when parents fail to provide basic necessities like food, shelter, education, medical care, and emotional support. Such abuse leads to neglect and moves the child toward harmful behaviors, like it gives permission to use drugs and alcohol that are destroying their future and ultimately the country’s. Because of this, they suffer from emotional, physical, and psychological issues like anxiety, stress, depression, suicidal thoughts, and use of drugs and alcohol, and some even choose death. In these instances, they completely destroy their dreams, identities, and confidence. This is not a failure of one; this reflects institutions’ negligence within society. The causes of child abuse are more complex. This includes parental neglect, domestic violence, poverty, lack of education, lack of awareness, lack of institutional support, and mental health issues.

 According to the report of  (Cruel Number 2022), 4253 cases of sexual abuse were reported, but as compared to this report, 33% more increased. Which include 55% of victims being girls and 45% being boys, with 53% of cases from urban areas and 47% from rural areas. Further, 81 cases reported murder after sexual abuse. According to (Al Jazeera officials), “An estimated 1.5 million children living on the streets are vulnerable to sexual abuse and drugs on a daily basis.” According to the Initiator Survey, 66% of children are forced to leave their homes due to poverty, domestic violence, neglect, and stress, which ultimately leads to child abuse.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, discussing Pakistan’s second periodic report on the CRC at its 34^th session in October 2003, expressed its concern at the “poor committee” and is also deeply concerned at the high number of children in prisons who are detained in poor conditions, often together with adult offenders and thus vulnerable to abuse concern. Further, the committee is deeply concerned about reports of juvenile offenders. Particularly within provincial governments and tribal areas, people are unaware of its existence. The implementation [of the JJSO] and that many of the authorities in charge of its implementation were sentenced to death and executed, which has occurred even after the promulgation and ill treatment. The very low minimum age of criminal responsibility (7 years) is also part of the ordinance.

Pakistan has taken steps to protect children by signing international agreements: According to UNICEF Pakistan stated, “The ratification of this optional protocol marks a significant milestone in the efforts to protect children from sexual exploitation in Pakistan.” This is also part of a global effort to bring the international community together in the fight against the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography. According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)  1990“Pakistan was an early leader in the international community’s commitment to defending the rights of children around the world. The Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography is a critical adjunct to the CRC that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000. We applaud the government of Pakistan’s commitment to extend the rights of children in Pakistan to include the right to protection from trafficking, prostitution, and involvement in pornography.”

The case of Zainab Ansari clearly illustrates this failure. Zainab Amin Ansari, a seven year old girl, was sexually abused and murdered in her hometown, Kasur. Her body was found after five days from a garbage disposer. Her culprit, Imran Ali, was arrested and then identified as also being a serial killer that had done seven previous rapes and murders of a girl. This case highlights how victims’ voices are ignored and how weak our system is, illustrating the failures in protecting a child. Now recently ,the case in Karachi was reported. Imran, a man, was arrested and identified as having done more than 100 acts of sexual abuse and physical abuse with more than 100 boys. Those ages are between 12 and 13 years. Police arrested him, but from January till now, no final decision has been made for him. According to the Karachi police, there were about nine cases reported from 2020 to 2025 that were filed against him and eight from 2017 to 2018. Where are our government institutions and laws? Laws are not only made for writing or signing an agreement; they need to be an act.

Recently, the case of Eshal Fatima, a 17 year old, first year student who was allegedly raped and murdered, shocked the nation and raised serious concerns about the safety and security of young girls. Also, the tragic case of Muntaha Zahra, an innocent seven year old girl who was raped and murdered, exposed the weaknesses of institutions and the continued failure of society to protect them. Why does no one take serious action on such cases? Why do these incidents remain breaking news on television channels for only a few hours before fading from public attention? This matter is not simple; it is a grave crime that demands immediate attention and justice.

Pakistan signed on to a child rights convention that emphasizes state parties protecting children’s rights from abuse. Its Article 19 emphasizes states taking proper jurisdiction action to protect children from any abuse. Article 34 emphasizes parties should accept to protect the child from all sexual exploitation, and According to UNICEF Pakistan, SDG 8.7 emphasizes taking immediate and effective measures to secure the prohibition and elimination of child labor. According to SDG 16.2, which aims to end abuse, violence, exploitation, and trafficking. According to SDG 5.3, which aims to end harmful practices like child labor and forced marriage. This issue is a multifaceted problem that needs a combined effort from society, government, and institutions.

Children are not just numbers or statistics, they are the future of the nation. Everyone should have to take immediate action, especially the investigation agencies, parents, courts, or police forces, where people go to demand justice. But after some days’ time, neither the issues resolve nor do we see the names of those issues. I appeal to all of these to never break the trust of those who will come to gain justice, who will tell you their problems with the hope of resolving them. It leads to maintaining the honor of institutions, governments, and especially their uniforms, which all make our countries grow faster and healthier with good motives. Raising awareness, guidance, and education about child rights and protection makes sense to children and parents, especially in rural areas, to know about their rights and their voices. When we give knowledge and education to children, they know about themselves, about signs, and about rights; they feel confident, and all these create an environment where they feel safe and grow as healthier citizens, and this all leads to growing a healthier nation.