03/08/2025
Child abuse and r**e cases have reached an alarming level in Pakistan, with over 1,956 incidents reported in just the first six months of 2025. The data, compiled by child protection NGOs and verified by media outlets, reveals a disturbing 20% increase from the same period in 2024—exposing systemic gaps in law enforcement and child safety mechanisms.
According to the latest figures, the abuse includes 950 cases of s*xual violence, 605 abductions, 192 missing children, 34 child marriages, and 62 cases of infant abandonment or death. The majority of victims fall in the 11–15 age group, with girls making up 52% of the cases.
Punjab remains the most affected province, accounting for nearly 72% of reported cases, followed by Sindh at 22%. The remaining cases were recorded in KP, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and Islamabad. Urban areas reported 59% of incidents, while rural communities made up 41%.
What’s particularly disturbing is that 49% of perpetrators were known to the victims, often family members, neighbors, or acquaintances. Despite an 83% reporting rate, very few cases see justice. In Punjab, for instance, only 28 convictions were recorded out of 2,506 cases of child s*xual abuse reported in 2024.
A five-year review from 2019–2023 shows a 220% rise in s*xual abuse cases, with over 5,398 incidents documented. In 2024 alone, 3,364 total child abuse cases were reported nationwide—averaging nine children abused every day.
Human rights advocates blame weak law enforcement, social stigma, and inadequate protection systems for the crisis. While laws such as the Zainab Alert Act and the Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025 exist, enforcement remains poor.
Experts are calling for urgent reforms: fast-track courts, trauma-informed survivor support, strict accountability, and early education programs on personal safety. Until then, Pakistan’s children remain dangerously vulnerable.
Sources : Samaa TV ProPakistani Dawn.com