Islamabad: Group Development Pakistan (GDP) and Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) express deep concern over reports of alleged rape of a minor female student within an educational institution in Lahore. The college administration’s alleged failure to address the issue and prioritize the institution’s reputation over transparency and justice for children is alarming.
Students have protested, demanding accountability and action, but the police response has been disturbing, with reports of children being arrested and beaten. At least 27 students sustained injuries during protests outside Punjab College campus [2).
We welcome Punjab Minister for Education Rana Sikander Hayat’s support for the students and the Government of Punjab’s notification of a committee to investigate. However, we emphasize that allegations must be addressed in a child-centric manner, following Pakistan’s constitutional and international obligations.
Key Demands:
– Investigation: Allegations should be investigated under the anti-rape (investigation and trial) Act 2021.
– Child Protection: Ensure the Child Protection Welfare Bureau, child protection specialists, and the National Commission on the Rights of Child are involved.
– Policy Reform: Urgently notify the pending Punjab Child Protection Policy and align the Punjab Destitute and Neglected Children Act with international standards.
– Capacity Building: Train justice system actors, especially police, on child-sensitive policing and Justice for Children.
– Child-Centric Approach: Focus on a technical, law-abiding approach that upholds children’s fundamental right to be heard and protected from harm.
We stand with the victims and their families, advocating for a gender and child-sensitive approach that prioritizes transparency, justice, and child protection.
Endorsed by: Munizeh Bano, Dr. Kishwar Enam, Nadia Jamil, Valerie Khan, Syed Kausar Abbas, Barrister Rubab Mehdi, Syed Kashf Ahmed, Advocate Sharafat Ali, Wardah Khan Emaan, and Khadija Sidiqqi.
