ISLAMABAD: The draft bill of legal reforms on prevention and control of cyber crimes against children under the supervision of National Child Commissioner of Federal Ombudsman Ejaz Ahmed Qureshi was finalised on Thursday.

A subcommittee on legal reforms under the leadership of Syeda Vigarun Nisa, adviser to the federal ombudsperson`s secretariat, and convener/secretary of the committee, held a number of meetings to finalise the draft of Prevention and Control of Cyber Crimes against Children Bill 2021 for amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016, Qanoon-i-Shahadat Order 1984 and other relevant laws.

The committee comprised senior representatives from the home departments andpolice officers from all provinces, GilgitBaltistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), National Information and Technology Board, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Ministry of Law, Unicef and child protection specialists from the public sector.

In a statement, the ombudsperson`s secretariat said it was proposed to make certain amendments to the laws. A committee was then formed which was headed by Syeda Vigarun Nisa to finalise the task.

During that meeting, Federal Ombudsman Syed Tahir Shahbaz said collective efforts by parents, educational institutions and the government were needed for the protection of children.

He said the current environment in soci-ety was unsafe for children; therefore, abuse of children needed to be curbed at a greater level.

He emphasised the need for strengthening the institutional mechanism forchildren protection.

He also underscored the need to chalk out a strategic plan of action in resolving the issues of children.

During a meeting of the subcommittee on legal reforms, the capacity to deal with children`s issues was also discussed and Syed Shahid Hussain, additional director cyber crimes FIA, briefed the committee.

He said the agency had limited outreach with its 15 stations around the country.

He suggested that police should be authorised to take cognizance of cyber crimes but the investigation relating to cyber aspects and coordination with other countries should remain with the FIA.

It was discussed that in the prevailing environment, the justice system was victimbased, therefore, in pornographic cases thevictims did not come forward due to cultural taboos.

The participants suggested that the child protection bureaus should cover cases of cybercrimes. Thecommittee finalised certain amendments to Peca along with insertion of offences of cyber bullying, online grooming, cyber enticement, sexual exploitation of children, exposure of harmful online contents, kidnapping, abduction or trafficking of minor for abuse of sexual conduct, non-commercial exploitation, police cognizance of the offences.

Other suggestions included the formation of joint investigation teams, giving authority to PTA and sending cases to FIA, blocking unlawful contents and amendments to Qanoon-iShahadat regarding admissibility of witnesses recorded by court through modern devices or techniques. The committee submitted the draft bill to the federal ombudsman for approval.-Staff Reporter