IT is as if a dam has broken.

The revulsion that spread through the public when the rape-murder of little Zainab came to light has seemingly triggered Pakistan’s #MeToo moment, specifically where child sexual abuse is concerned.

Virtually every day, at least one incident is reported in the media. The circumstances span a variety of settings; madressahs, schools, even in the child’s own home.

Paedophiles can be anywhere; in fact most of them are known to their victims.

The internet enables a proliferation of their despicable actions. The FIA in Punjab has unearthed three child pornography rings that were uploading and selling online pornographic content involving minors.

In all three cases, tip-offs — from Norwegian and Canadian authorities in two of them and by families of victims in one — led the FIA to individuals allegedly running the racket.

The law-enforcement body, however, appears to recognise its limitations on this score, suggesting that a specialised ‘cyber patrol’ unit equipped with the latest software be created to track down such criminal activity on the internet, a proposal worth looking into.

It is heartening that victims and their families are increasingly coming forward to lodge complaints.

The culture of silence that surrounds the issue of child sexual abuse only benefits the perpetrators and puts more children at risk.

Now that citizens are courageously doing their part in resisting this pervasive social evil, the state must step up and play a proactive role.

Mechanisms of reporting complaints more easily can be instituted: for example, the number of hotlines can be increased and specialised desks introduced in police stations staffed by people trained in dealing with such cases.

Any complaint should be followed up promptly and a wider net cast in case there are other victims of the perpetrator; child murderers or criminals running child pornography rings should be apprehended before they destroy so many lives.

At the same time, child sexual abuse is more effectively countered when other state instruments are also involved and liaise with law-enforcement teams.

For example, the agenda for school inspectors should include engaging with students to assess whether any sexual abuse is prevalent in the institution; a similar system is required for madressahs.

Last but not least, prudish attitudes towards sexual abuse have left our children vulnerable to predators. Children must be taught to recognise sexual abuse and how they can protect themselves.

A little less innocence will keep them safer.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2018