Rizwana Bibi: A Child Domestic Worker’s Fight for Justice

September 6, 2026

Rizwana Bibi: A Child Domestic Worker’s Fight for Justice

Rizwana Bibi’s case brought national attention to the hidden dangers faced by children employed inside private homes in Pakistan.

In July 2023, the teenage domestic worker was brought from Islamabad to Lahore General Hospital with serious injuries and a life-threatening infection. Contemporary reports differed on whether she was 13 or 14 years old, but all identified her as a child who should never have been employed in domestic work.

Her employers were reported to be a civil judge and his wife. The wife was accused of subjecting Rizwana to prolonged physical abuse while the child worked in their Islamabad home. These were allegations before the courts, and the accused denied wrongdoing.

A Child in Critical Condition

Rizwana required prolonged medical care after arriving at Lahore General Hospital. Doctors treated her for severe injuries, infections and other complications.

The hospital’s medical team continued her treatment for approximately 120 days. In November 2023, hospital officials announced that she had recovered sufficiently to stand again and was expected to be discharged.

Her recovery demonstrated remarkable resilience. It also showed the importance of timely medical intervention and institutional support for children rescued from abusive conditions.

Arrest and Legal Proceedings

Islamabad police registered a criminal case following a complaint from Rizwana’s family. In August 2023, a court rejected the accused’s pre-arrest bail application, after which she was taken into custody.

The accused was subsequently granted post-arrest bail in September 2023. Rizwana later recorded her statement with Islamabad police following her recovery.

Publicly accessible reporting reviewed for this article did not establish that a final trial judgment had been delivered. Bail does not determine guilt or innocence, and the allegations must ultimately be decided through an independent and fair judicial process.

Justice requires both accountability for violence against children and full respect for due process.

What the Law Says

The Islamabad Capital Territory Domestic Workers Act 2022 prohibits the employment of children under the age of 16 in a household in any capacity.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan stated that Rizwana’s employment as a minor violated the legal prohibition on child domestic work. The organisation called for stronger criminal accountability and protection for children employed inside private homes.

The National Commission on the Rights of Child has also highlighted major weaknesses in the enforcement of child-labour protections. Domestic work takes place behind closed doors, making exploitation difficult to detect unless families, neighbours, authorities and communities intervene.

The Wider Problem

Rizwana’s case was not an isolated incident. Children engaged in domestic labour can become invisible to schools, child-protection authorities and the wider community.

Their isolation may expose them to:

Physical and psychological violence
Denial of education
Excessive working hours
Inadequate food and medical treatment
Separation from their families
Threats intended to prevent disclosure

Poverty may explain why vulnerable families accept domestic-work arrangements, but it cannot justify employing or abusing a child. Families experiencing economic hardship need social protection, education and sustainable livelihood support—not arrangements that place their children in danger.

SFFP’s Position

Samaritan’s Fellowship Foundation Pakistan believes that every child has the right to dignity, safety, education and a childhood free from exploitation.

Pakistan already has important child-protection laws. These protections must be enforced consistently, regardless of the wealth, occupation or social influence of an alleged offender.

We call for:

Effective enforcement of child domestic-labour laws
Prompt investigation of reported abuse
Safe rehabilitation and education for survivors
Accountability through independent judicial proceedings
Greater public awareness of the dangers of child domestic labour
Economic and social support for vulnerable families

Rizwana’s survival should not allow the circumstances that endangered her to be forgotten. Her case must become a reason to strengthen protection for every child whose work and suffering remain hidden behind closed doors.

No child belongs in domestic servitude. Every child belongs in a safe home and a classroom.