By: Areeba Abbasi
Islamabad: Secours Islamique France (SIF) organized its annual awareness event at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), featuring an engaging puppet show on child protection, safeguarding, good parenting, and mental health. The puppet show creatively blended entertainment with strong social messaging, aiming to sensitize families and children to critical issues related to safety, well-being, and responsible parenting.
The event opened with welcome remarks by Dr. Altaf Abro, Head of Mission, Secours Islamique France (SIF), who highlighted SIF’s 31 years of global humanitarian service and its presence in Pakistan since 2010. He shared that SIF’s orphan sponsorship programme, launched 31 years ago in Gaza, currently supports over 10,000 orphan students, ensuring education and socio-economic continuity. He also noted that SIF provides skills development initiatives to empower vulnerable communities.
Addressing Pakistan’s child-related challenges, Dr. Altaf Abro (HoM-SIF) stated that while the country faces numerous issues, education remains the most critical. He pointed to alarming realities, including approximately 1,000 deaths annually among children under five due to parental issues, along with persistent problems of child labour, child marriages, violence against children, and child protection violations. He further noted that 26 million children are out of school, while malnutrition is increasing, leading SIF to launch a school meal programme.
A panel discussion, moderated by Mr. Habib Ahmad Laghari, brought together experts from law enforcement, international organizations, and civil society.
Ms. Nargis Raza, Deputy Director, National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), said that cases involving children are handled on a priority basis with strict confidentiality and sensitivity. She emphasized that child protection is first and foremost the responsibility of the state, after which it becomes a shared responsibility of parents, communities, and institutions. She further highlighted that globally, one out of every eight children is sexually abused, underscoring the scale of the issue. She cautioned parents against leaving children unattended, noting that in most abuse cases, perpetrators are trusted individuals.
Ms. Fauzia from Oxford University, stated that storytelling is one of the most effective tools for child learning and behavioral change, as children learn best through narratives rather than lectures. She also highlighted that nearly 90 percent of child abuse cases remain unreported, making awareness and open communication critical. She warned that disturbing digital content and social media reels negatively impact children’s psychological health and increase vulnerability.
Ms. Misbah Shahbaz, SHO, Phulgran Police Station, Islamabad, advised parents not to instill fear of police in children, clarifying that law enforcement agencies exist to protect children, not to intimidate them.
Ms. Munazza Ali, Child Protection and Gender Advisor at Save the Children, stressed that mothers’ mental health plays a crucial role in child development and that awareness and psychosocial support are essential.
Mr. Imtiaz, Child Protection Expert at UNICEF, emphasized the importance of a strong emotional bond between parents and children for healthy upbringing.
Mr. Muhammad Hussain Ali, Child Protection Officer (Legal), said that Pakistan has comprehensive child protection laws, but the lack of public awareness remains a major barrier to their effective enforcement.
The event concluded with a reaffirmed commitment by all stakeholders to promote child protection, education, mental health, and positive parenting, using innovative approaches such as puppet shows and storytelling to foster lasting social change