Peshawar: A recent report by Sahil, a prominent NGO working for children’s rights in Pakistan, has revealed a deeply concerning rise in child sexual abuse cases. From January to June 2024, 1,630 children have fallen victim to sexual abuse across the country. These alarming figures highlight an urgent need for stronger protection mechanisms and greater awareness about children’s rights.
Social experts have linked the increase in such incidents to a lack of education and awareness about child protection. The Sahil report also shows a significant gender disparity, with 59% of the victims being girls, while 41% were boys. Equally distressing is the fact that 47% of these crimes were committed by people known to the children.
Zia-ul-Haq, a human rights advocate from Peshawar, pointed out that weak law enforcement plays a critical role in perpetuating this problem. “Lax enforcement of laws consistently favors the accused, leaving children vulnerable in our society,” he noted. A concerning trend revealed in the report is that children aged 6 to 15 were most often targeted, and 48 incidents involved the creation of exploitative videos.
The report also sheds light on various related crimes, with 862 cases of sexual violence, 668 cases of child abduction, 82 cases of missing children, and 18 cases of child marriage reported. Particularly heartbreaking is that 94 of the victims were under the age of five.
The majority of these cases – 78% – were reported from Punjab, while 6% came from Islamabad, with other provinces making up the rest. Disturbingly, 56% of cases were from rural areas, where access to education and social protections is even more limited.
Experts, including Faisal Mushtaq Advocate from the Peshawar High Court, are urging the government to take swift and decisive action. “Non-governmental organizations are doing vital work by collecting this data, but it is the government’s responsibility to act on it and ensure our children’s safety.”
With millions of school-age children already deprived of education and a high rate of child labor, this rise in violence further underscores the need for a multi-pronged approach. Social awareness campaigns, stricter law enforcement, and collaboration between government agencies and NGOs are essential to safeguarding children’s rights and preventing such heinous crimes in the future.
The report calls on all stakeholders, including civil society, law enforcement, and the government, to work together to create a safer environment for children. Only through collective action can we hope to reverse this alarming trend and ensure a brighter, safer future for Pakistan’s youth.
