ISLAMABAD: Renowned singer and social activist Shehzad Roy has urged the government to introduce Life Skills Based Education (LSBE) across Pakistan to ensure protection and dignity of every child.

Mr Roy, who is one of the petitioners in Supreme Court seeking orders for introduction of life skills across Pakistan, told Dawn on Thursday that if the LSBE was introduced in schools, they could save an entire generation.

`Because when child abuse remains a taboo, it robs a child not only of their innocence but of a healthy whole adulthood. This is not just about education; it`s about protection, healing and dignity for every child in Pakistan`, said Mr Roy.

`In this petition, we are also urging the state to formally include key stakeholders and pioneers in LSBE like Zindagi Trust and Aahung which have years of experience delivering this cruciallearning in schools. Too often, we hear claims that life skills are being taught, but when we examine the curriculum, vital topics suchassafe andunsafe touch,private body parts, puberty and how to report abuse are missing,` he said while appreciating the Sindh government for taking a lead role in introduction of the LSBE.

`In Sindh, now thousands of children know what abuse is, who to talk to, and how to seek help.

This is life-saving knowledge, especially when over 90pc of abuse cases are committed by someone the child knows,` he said, adding every child should be aware of safe touch and unsafe touch,` said Mr Roy, who had previously played a key role in getting corporal punishment banned in Pakistan through his Zindagi Trust`s petition The Supreme Court has already summoned federal and provincial secretaries for next hearing.

The petitioner`s counsel Salman Akram Raja stated that they wanted directions to provincial governments and relevant departments to ensure the provision of age-appropriate LSBE in all primary and secondary schools.

`The LSBE has been universally successful in equipping children with essential life skills making them less susceptible tochild sexual abuse (CSA),` reads the petition. It called for an urgent need to educate children about CSA prevention, including body protection, how to identify and prevent improper touching, effective communication skills and reporting inappropriate behaviour.

`It is also crucial to address the general lack of awareness about adolescent health, including the emotional, physical and social changes associated with puberty.

Lack of information about consent, bodily changes, saying no to authority figures or elders and identifying an unsafe or confusing touch increase children`s vulnerability to coercion and exploitation.

`This also makes children unable to assert their bodily autonomy, manage themselves in risky situations or report dangerous interactions and behaviour to their parents or guardians,` read the petition.

The petitioner has requested the apex court to declare that it is a constitutional duty of the respondent -the federation and provinces -to ensure that all primary and secondary schoolchildren received appropriate and effective LSBE. They also wanted court`s orders for directing the provincial governments to formulate policies for the implementa-tion of the LSBE in primary and secondary school curricula, and direct the respondents to implement existing and new policies relating to the inclusion of the LSBE in primary and secondary school curricula.

`Direct the federation, provinces and other relevant ministries and departments to urgently implement an age-appropriate LSBE curriculum necessarily including comprehensive child sexual abuse prevention education, (including privacy, unsafe and safe touch, consent, safety skills and reporting) across all primary and secondary educational institutions in the country which may include but are not limited to: schools, rehabilitation centres, observations homes, child protection institutions, religious institutions, technical and vocational training centres or shelters where children are present, while noting that adequate implementation of the curriculum requires content development, teacher training, rollout and monitoring,` stated the petition.

It also sought court`s directions to relevant ministries and departments to build the capacities of caregivers and teachers interacting with children about L SBE topics and provide them with relevant material.