AbdulRehman Foundation

Protection from violence, abuse, and exploitation is a fundamental right enshrined in various international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), among others. These instruments recognize the right of every individual, including children and women, to be free from all forms of violence, abuse, and exploitation.

Protection from violence, abuse, and exploitation encompasses a wide range of issues and situations, including:

1. Physical violence: This refers to any act of physical force that causes harm or injury to an individual, such as physical assault, corporal punishment, or torture.
2. Sexual violence and abuse: This includes any form of non-consensual sexual activity, sexual harassment, rape, child sexual abuse, and exploitation, as well as harmful practices like female genital mutilation and child marriage.
3. Emotional and psychological abuse: This involves the use of threats, intimidation, humiliation, or manipulation to control, demean, or harm an individual emotionally or psychologically.
4. Neglect: Neglect refers to the failure to provide for a person’s basic needs, such as food, shelter, healthcare, and education, resulting in harm or endangerment.
5. Exploitation: Exploitation involves taking advantage of someone’s vulnerability or situation for personal gain. It can include forced labor, human trafficking, child labor, and other forms of exploitation in both formal and informal settings.

To address these issues and protect individuals from violence, abuse, and exploitation, governments have a responsibility to establish and enforce laws and policies that criminalize such acts, provide support and services to victims, and promote prevention and awareness programs. Efforts are made to strengthen child protection systems, combat human trafficking, enhance legal frameworks against violence, and promote gender equality to address violence against women and girls.

Additionally, civil society organizations, community groups, and individuals play a crucial role in advocating for the rights of victims, providing support services, raising awareness, and promoting a culture of non-violence and respect for human rights.

It is important to recognize that protection from violence, abuse, and exploitation is an ongoing challenge, and efforts must continue to strengthen legal frameworks, improve prevention and response mechanisms, and promote a society where every individual can live free from violence and exploitation.