THE need to end child abuse in society is rather urgent. A law cannot protect children if people do not know it exists. Many parents, teachers and children are unaware that abusing a child can lead to severe punishment, including lengthy prison terms. Another problem is that legal language is too difficult for ordinary people to understand. Most laws are written for lawyers, not for the public. How can we expect crime to fall when many cannot understand the very laws that are supposed to protect them?

Every important child protection law should be available in simple Urdu and regional languages, with short examples explaining what a crime is, how to report it, and what the potential punishment is. The government should launch nationwide awareness campaigns through schools, television, radio, social media and mosques.

Posters in public places should clearly explain children’s rights, reporting methods and legal penalties. When people under-stand the law and criminals know that society is educated to report abuse, the fear of punishment grows. Simple laws in simple language help protect countless children.

Muhammad Shahjahan Memon
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2026