LAHORE, Sept 21: Participants in a protest rally have demanded of the federal and Punjab governments to make result-oriented efforts for controlling the rising incidence of child rape in the province.

Gathered under the banner of the Cecil and Iris Chaudhry Foundation on Saturday, the civil society groups and activists also sought immediate arrest of those involved in such crimes.

The protesters while carrying placards and banners chanted slogans and demanded safeguarding the minors.

“The frequent incidents of child abuse and violence perpetrated against children, with specific reference to the Mughalpura rape case, have raised serious concerns about child rights and protection,” said CICF President Michelle Chaudhry.

She said effective laws should provide horizontal justice to children supported by the establishment of police complaint cells for families of the abused children. The two objectives would necessitate an environment conducive to a childhood free of exploitation and terror, she added.

Later talking to Dawn, Ms Chaudhry said though Pakistan had ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on Dec 12, 1990, it was neither enforced nor invoked in local courts due to lack of supporting legislation. “Ours foundation is aggressively pursuing a two-pronged approach to eradicate child abuse and rape by demanding effective laws as deterrents and establishment of police complaint cells at the lowest tier of local government machinery,” she said.