Child abuse in Pakistan remains a persistent and alarming issue, with incidents showing no signs of abating. Despite the severity of the problem, there has been a noticeable lack of strong response from the authorities. For example, in 2023, Sahil, an NGO, reported 4,200 cases of child abuse, with an average of 11 cases per day, yet this shocking data did not provoke the necessary action from the government. The conviction rates for perpetrators remain dismally low, and the environment remains unsafe for children. In the first half of 2024 alone, Sahil’s SixMonthsCruelNumbers report documented 1,630 cases of child abuse across Pakistan, including 862 cases of child sexual abuse, 668 cases of abduction, 82 cases of missing minors, 18 cases of child marriage, and 48 instances of pornography following sexual exploitation. Of these victims, 59% were female, and 41% were male, with Punjab accounting for 78% of the total cases, followed by Sindh with 11% and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with 3%. The article stresses the need for a recognition of the widespread acceptance of abuse and the imbalance of power that fuels this epidemic. It calls for authorities, law enforcers, and the judiciary to listen to survivors and experts, tighten and enforce laws on » Read More…
