Child Sexual Abuse and Stolen Dignity:

A Socio-Legal Exploration of Child Protection Policies in Pakistan

by Mehak Zaraq

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This article aims to provide a critical analysis of Pakistan's obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in the context of protection of children from sexual abuse and exploitation. Pakistan has is a party to the UNCRC and committed to achieve the Convention's goals. However, state's legislation and policies leave much to be desired. The case of Zainab Ansari is one of many which illustrate the country's failure to deal with the crisis at hand. This paper evaluates how the domestic legislation on child protection, the measures taken by the executive and society at large, have all failed to cater to the issue of child abuse in Pakistan. In doing so, it will be explained how the inadequacies of the system have put and continue to put Pakistani children at a risk of abuse This is construed in the paper as a violation of their right to dignity under Article 14 (1) of the Constitution of Pakistan, which requires, at the very minimum, that children are shielded from acts of sexual abuse and exploitation that negatively impact on their ability to fully develop their personalities.