Children should be educated to recognise sexual abuse, says Mahira Khan
Updated May 23, 2019 09:29pm
The actor, with Shehzad Roy and Zeba Bakhtiar sat in a press conference to talk about the tragic case of young Farishta.
Mahira Khan has made an appeal to teachers and parents to give children proper education to protect themselves from sexual abuse.
The actor took part in a press conference today at Karachi Press Club along with Shehzad Roy, Zeba Bakhtiar and Younis Khan to talk on the tragic case of Farishta, a ten-year-old girl who was kidnapped, raped and murdered.
"This is a tragic event, but such terrible incidents are happening all over our country. Children are suffering such incidents and we need to do what we can to prevent this," said Mahira, going on to talk about the importance of educating children against inappropriate touch.
"We aren't taught as children what is an inappropriate touch. Parents and teachers should teach their children about these things. Awareness of good touch and bad touch should begin at home and awareness to prevent abuse should be taught at home and school."
Khan emphasised the importance of having a conversation about these matters with children, as it will make them not only aware but will also allow them to speak up should they be uncomfortable in a setting.
"Please, when these things are not talked about in your homes, don't hush your children up... because you can't even think what those children must be experiencing at the time," said the actor.
She added, "This is something to give importance to. Whether it's the police, the child protection unit or counselors, they should be involved in helping children be aware... We need child psychologists and therapists in our child protection units to help them."
"This is the outcry we had a year ago when Zainab's murder happened and now this incident has shaken us yet again," said Shehzad Roy.
"Why are children not being properly taught how to protect themselves after everything that has happened? Why isn't our child protection unit working on making this happen?"
He added, "We need to understand that when such incidents happen, they start slowly. It starts with an inappropriate touch that a child doesn't understand and is quiet about and it grows to the point that a life is lost. We don't want it to get to that point, it can be stopped in the first go if a child knows what bad touch is."
According to Zeba Bakhtiar, "We all need to work together to make this change in our society happen. Education for children regarding all this is very important. Social media plays an important part in all this."
Absolutely right. Please Campaign for such issues so that children know the difference between good touch and Bad touch
fully endorse this.
SYED FAHD
ABSOLUTELY agree with Mahira Khan
Ahsan Gul
Alway these words that we use "should be ". When anyone is going to "We have put in practice"
Solomon The King
and at the hands of tutors too
Khan USA
Exactly ! Children should be taught about Safe Touch and Unsafe Touch ! This is happening in every civilized world so that no child could be abused even by a blood relative !
Mahira and friends please continue helping PK children from abuse and get govt. co-operation. Best to you all.
N abidai
Totally agree,the parents must learn that they are responsbile for the well being of their children ,which means teaching them saftey skills,and follow them in home ,and in schools ,in neighborhoods! Abuse starts at home by near and dear one's !
What on earth are these actors and actresses lecturing about 'teaching children about sexual abuse'? This is not the issue here. The issue is one of rape. Even if any of the children be it Zainab or Ferishta knew about sexual abuse would it have prevented them from being kidnapped by force and being subjected to rape? They were not groomed but taken unawares. They were young girls who were targeted as prey by predators. The issue is about society & police taking rape seriously and punishing the offender. The issue is about bringing up and giving men a moral education in which they have to be taught that they must respect girls and women. The issue is about changing mindsets about the role of men in society, not as rulers and controllers of women but their supporters and protectors. The issue is not about teaching girls to be fearful , but to be vigilant and stand up for themselves and teaching boys and men that their purpose in life is not to exert power and control over women
Absolutely! They should be made to feel comfortable about bring up the subject with their parents. Too often kids, as well as adults, are made to feel shameful about even mentioning it. That not only gives cover to abuses, and abusers, it is also very unhealthy for the mental and emotional well being of the victims.
hanifsmile
Children should be educated to do a lot more, then you will not have people who sexually abuse other people, teach them respect, patience, values, and list goes on and on
Two thumbs up for Mr. Khan. Be the leader in this cause.
Bilal Kashmir
@Parsa It all starts from being aware and sensitive children. Are you in a position to deploy a security guard to every children or is it practically possible to have an acquaintance all the time while playing or going to school or visiting relatives ?. If children themselves are cautious and alert ,they can gauge to understand behaviour of such predators.They can talk about this to parents. This will avoid many mishaps.
@Parsa You raise some very important points. But there have been quite a few instances of boys also being raped. Boys are not immune to abuse and inappropriate touching. Children do need to recognise the difference between good and bad touching. Adults have a duty to listen and to act when children confide in them, and not turn a blind eye. Emotional and psychological damage are most often the consequences.
Jawaid Islam
While this is important, it is also necessary to lecture the male child from the early years to not touch another child in any way. Also, mothers and fathers should be vigilant around their household themselves, who is coming and going, and not allow girls to venture out to play or shops on their own, cousins, brothers even fathers can play havoc to a child's life. So be vigilant.
Mahira I appreciate you. You take a good action to stand for the lifes of boys and girls. Yes the boys and girls want to knew about good touch and bad touch this is very important because the kidnapers have very smart. The teachers have must talk to child about good touch and bad touch.And the parents take proper responsibility to safe his child.