AS countries marked Children’s Day yesterday to renew their pledge to safeguard the rights of little ones, Pakistan had little to show for its own progress in the area. We continue to fail our most vulnerable citizens year after year. In yet another shameful incident, it was found last week that two teachers at a Chakwal seminary had been torturing and sexually abusing 15 children for weeks. The matter came to light when one of the victims recounted the horrors he endured to his father. This encouraged other victims to speak up. The children were left not only physically, but also emotionally scarred. Punjab’s chief minister has promised swift justice but plugging one hole when half the ship has sunk will do little to redress matters. In the first half of this year alone, 2,227 cases of child abuse were reported. Although, there is no information on how many of these tragedies unfolded at madressahs, history shows us such events have sadly become all too common. In 2021, a Lahore cleric was found to have sexually abused a student for three years. In 2019, a 13-year-old disabled girl was sexually assaulted by a cleric in Multan.

The state needs to take a long, hard look at the madressah as an institution. Why is it that a place whose stated aim is imparting religious education is often viewed through a dark lens? While they must not all be tarred with the same brush, the state should realise that it needs to dig deeper and unearth why such incidents continue to surface year after year. It should realise that the power dynamic between a teacher and a student is a contributing factor. Predators target children because their claims are unfortunately less likely to be believed. Some also use political clout to cover up their crimes. Compounding the problem is the unwillingness of society to pursue the matter, such as in the Chakwal case, with parents of nine victims refusing medical examination of the children. These factors further embolden the perpetrators, allowing such crimes to continue.

The government recently earmarked Rs1.2bn for the registration and regulation of religious schools. While this is a necessary step, it should also institute other changes. The state must enforce strict regulations — and follow through — against any form of abuse, and ensure the mental and physical well-being of students. This includes regular monitoring, a framework for reporting and addressing grievances, and ensuring that madressahs are safe spaces for learning and personal growth. Additionally, understanding and addressing the socioeconomic factors that lead families to opt for madressah education, such as poverty and lack of access to conventional schools, are equally important. There are an estimated 3m students enrolled in madressahs. We must not let them down.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2023