ISLAMABAD, May 31: The Child Rights Movement (CRM) expressed grave concern over the recent incidents of physical and psychological harassment of the children at schools and homes as they found death the only possible escape.

According to a statement issued by the CRM on Thursday, the media reports on unnerving incidents during May 2012 only, need an urgent and emergency response from the authorities concerned, civil society, parents, teachers and society at large tothe plight of the children as the situation is getting worse with every passing day.

Within this one month, the society has been exposed to the distressing news as on 30th May in Sohan, Islamabad, a 14-year old 9th class student shot himself dead as his father had beaten him for being absent from school for two days. In the same way, an 11-year six grader set himself ablaze after being humiliated by the teachers at the school. He died two days later. In another incident, an eight-year-old boy committed suicide in Abbottabad for being disappointed from school and home. He left behind his diary telling the tale of psychological torture he was going through during last days of his life.

Another 13-year-old 6th class student ended his life in Paposh Nagar, Karachi as he could not bear the pain of shame and guilt thrown by the teachers at school and parents at home.

CRM demanded that the corporal punishment bill (pending since 2009) should be introduced in the capital and provinces and implementation of Child Protection and Welfare Act-2010 should be ensured.

Moreover, the CRM strongly recommended extensive trainings of the school management, teachers and parents on adopting positive disciplinary strategies as an alternative to corporal punishment, and it must regulate public and private institutions to ensure a friendly and safe environment for the children to learn without fear. It also urged to educate general masses on negative effects of corporal punishment, child sexual abuse, child domestic labour, child marriages etc by involving civil society, through electronic and print media.