Catalyst for change.

SOME TIME ago, the story of the physical abuse of Rizwana and the tragic passing of Fatima dominated the news, shedding light on Pakistan's multifarious challenges. These incidents, while deeply unsettling, act as a lens, exposing the systemic ills entrenched in our societal structure.

Child labour often conjures up images of boys in factories. The plight of girls in domestic roles is hardly discussed. The story of Rizwana and Fatima revealed that child labour goes beyond working in factories, and is also very much about young girls silently bearing their lot as domestic help, their vulnerability amplified by their hidden existence.

The alleged culprits in such condemnable incidents are often housewives. What has pushed them to perpetrate such atrocities against defenceless children? That answer may lie in their own mental health, which is often rooted in personal trauma. The Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey, 2017-18, reveals that nearly one in four Pakistani women has faced intimate partner violence. Coupled with societal pressures and the stigma attached to those seeking help, this trauma can lead to a volatile mix. Research indicates that exposure to domestic violence can set off a cycle of abuse in adulthood.

Assuming that a significant number of these women have been subjected to domestic abuse either during their childhood or as adults, there are multiple triggers that might push them to continue this cycle of violence. One such trigger is 'anger'. Young victims often wrestle with profound anger. This anger, while frequently aimed at the abuser, can also be redirected towards others. If not addressed constructively, it can erupt in violent actions. In the Pakistani context, where many homes have vulnerable child maids available at their disposal, it becomes convenient for individuals, be it women or men, grappling with mental health issues, to vent their suppressed anger on these innocent beings, leading to acts of extreme cruelty.

Mental health issues often trigger child abuse.

What prevents these mentally distressed individuals from thinking twice before unleashing harm on defenseless children? The dilemma of out-of-school children. Research links this phenomenon to poverty. World Bank studies reveal that impoverished children are more likely to abandon education and face violence.

With a huge chunk of Pakistan's populace living below the poverty threshold, parents trapped in dire circumstances send their male offspring to...