Erica Robin urges Pakistan to protect children

Pakistan’s first Miss Universe, Erica Robin, used Independence Day to highlight an urgent issue facing children across the country, urging parents to take stronger measures to protect them from sexual abuse.

In a message shared on social media, Robin said that while Independence Day is a time to celebrate Pakistan, the occasion should also be used to speak about serious social problems. She said recent reports of violence and abuse involving children were deeply disturbing and required greater awareness among families.

Robin offered parents three key suggestions for protecting their children.

First, she urged parents not to assume that children are automatically safe with relatives or other people they know. She said families should remain aware of who has regular access to their children, regardless of whether the child is a boy or a girl.

Her second recommendation was to teach children about personal boundaries. Robin said children should understand that their bodies belong to them and that they have the right to refuse unwanted physical contact. Parents, she stressed, should never force children to hug, kiss or show affection to another person if they are uncomfortable.

Robin identified open communication as the most important step. She encouraged parents to create an environment where children can speak freely about anything that makes them uncomfortable or frightened. She also advised parents to pay attention to sudden changes in a child’s behaviour, particularly when the child appears uneasy around a particular person.

The model urged parents to share these lessons with others and work collectively to create an environment where children feel safe, respected and heard.

Her message comes amid continuing concerns over child abuse in Pakistan. More than 1,900 cases of child abuse were reported across the country during the first half of the year, according to data cited in the report.

Several recent cases have intensified public concern. In Karachi, police arrested a 17-year-old relative after the father of a young girl reported that she had gone out with him to buy something and later returned unconscious after being sexually assaulted.

Earlier, the deaths of two young girls in Karachi and Sargodha also sparked outrage. Police investigations into both cases involved allegations of sexual violence, while several suspects were detained in connection with the incidents.