Lahore: Pakistan is grappling with a significant issue of gender-based violence and child abuse, particularly affecting girls and women employed in domestic work. These workers frequently face severe abuse, including physical violence, sexual exploitation, and forced labor, with enforcement of existing legal protections proving inadequate.
The tragic cases of two young domestic workers, Rizwana and Fatima Furiro, have highlighted the urgent need for reform. Rizwana, a 14-year-old from Lahore, was brutally beaten and tortured by her employer, while Fatima, a 10-year-old, was tortured and murdered. These cases underscore the extreme vulnerability of child domestic workers in Pakistan, many of whom are trafficked or coerced into these roles due to economic pressures.
Current laws, such as the Punjab Domestic Workers Act 2019 and the Islamabad Domestic Workers Bill 2021, have been implemented but fail to adequately protect many child workers. There is a lack of accountability for perpetrators, and those in positions of power have often been implicated in abuse.
A proposed Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) could offer a solution by strengthening legal protections and encouraging cultural change. The protocol aims to challenge the normalization of gender-based violence and child abuse disguised as domestic labor.
Supporters argue that this initiative could provide much-needed protection for vulnerable workers and demonstrate Pakistan’s commitment to justice. By adopting the protocol, Pakistan would take a step towards a safer future for women and children and could become a leader in setting a new global standard.