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Pakistan has witnessed an alarming upsurge in child sexual abuse cases across the country in the last five years.
According to a report issued by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) covering the incidence in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, a total of 5398 cases of sexual abuse against children were reported from 2019 to 2023.
Of these child sexual abuse cases, 3,323 or 62 per cent, were reported in Punjab alone, followed by 1,360 cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which stood at 25.1 per cent.
Similarly, 458 cases or 8.5 per cent, were reported in Sindh, followed by 257 in Balochistan, which stood at 5 per cent.
According to the report, overall the country saw a 220 per cent increase in child abuse incidents from 2019 to 2023.
Lahore district reported the highest number of 1,176 incidents of child abuse. The Kolai-Palas district of Kohistan, with a population of only 158,000 people under 18, reported 84 cases.
The SSDO has urged the authorities to take effective measures against child sexual abuse, including strengthening the enforcement of existing laws, providing specialised training for law enforcement agencies ensuring efficient functioning of fast-track courts under the Zainab Alert Act, and promoting awareness campaigns.
It has also urged to improve reporting systems, strengthen interagency cooperation and establish a central national database to take up child sexual abuse cases.
In addition, the report has recommended extending support for the victims, including creating child-friendly environments and spaces and providing trauma counselling and financial support.
It has also recommended creating a strong legal framework to address emerging challenges such as online exploitation and human trafficking.
SSDO Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas expressed concern over the data and said that “these are not just the numbers, but the innocent lives have suffered unimaginable trauma.
“A 220 per cent increase in reported cases of child sexual abuse in the last five years highlights the dire need for strong laws, effective enforcement mechanisms, and public awareness campaigns. Protection of children should be a national priority,” he said.
He said that 62 per cent of cases in Punjab call for an immediate review of the existing child protection policies and their implementation.
He said that the incidents reported in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan indicate gaps in the system, which should be addressed through concerted efforts between government institutions and civil society.
Kausar Abbas appealed to the government, law enforcement agencies, and civil society to work together to eliminate the root causes of sexual abuse against children to provide a child-friendly and safe environment in Pakistan.
