Child Abuse Cases Surge in Pakistan: 20% Rise in Sexual Exploitation and More
A shocking increase in child abuse cases has hit Pakistan hard this year, highlighting major gaps in the country’s child protection system. According to the latest Cruel Numbers report by NGO Sahil, reported incidents of child sexual abuse (CSA) jumped by 20% in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024. This comes as families and experts raise alarms over hidden dangers and weak laws.
From January to June 2025, Pakistan saw 1,956 reported cases. These included 605 child abductions, 192 missing children, 950 instances of child sexual abuse, and 34 cases of child or compensation marriages. Sahil, based in Islamabad and focused on child protection since 1996, pulled this data from over 80 newspapers, verifying details with police reports where possible. They categorize cases into types like sexual abuse, kidnapping, child marriages, sodomy, rape, and missing children. But experts note that media reliance means many cases in remote areas or suppressed incidents stay off the radar, making official child abuse statistics even more worrying.
Why the spike? It’s not just better reporting. NGOs like Sahil and VoicePK.net have ramped up awareness campaigns and media coverage, encouraging more families to speak out. Yet deeper issues fuel the rise. Soaring inflation, unemployment, and poverty make kids from low-income homes easy targets. Add in the dangers of social media and online platforms, where predators lurk, and you see why children face growing risks. Pakistan has child protection laws on the books, but poor enforcement lets offenders exploit loopholes and escape punishment.
Stigma, fear of revenge, and a broken justice system keep many cases silent. As one report in Greek City Times points out, families often stay quiet because reporting can re-traumatize kids instead of helping them. Law enforcement inefficiencies make it worse, with countless child abuse stories never seeing the light of day.
Punjab leads with 72% of reported cases, thanks to its huge population, better media reach, and active NGOs. But this doesn’t mean abuse is worse there—it’s just more visible. Sindh follows with 15-17%, especially in cities like Karachi, while rural spots lag in reporting. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan account for 7-8% and 3-4%, but experts say these numbers likely undercount the real child sexual abuse crisis due to limited media, community dispute resolutions, and weak oversight.
Kids aged 11-15 are hit hardest, making up about one-third of cases. Contrary to what many think, strangers aren’t the main threat—abuse often comes from people they know. Nearly 47% of incidents happen in the victim’s home, and 16% at the perpetrator’s place. Even when families bravely report to police, justice is rare. Around 83% of cases get registered, but conviction rates linger at just 5-10%. Trials drag on for years, draining families emotionally and financially. Intimidation is common, especially if the abuser has power, and without witness protection, victims face endless threats, trapping everyone in silence.
This child abuse surge in Pakistan calls for urgent fixes: stronger laws, better enforcement, and support for vulnerable families. As Sahil’s report shows, awareness is growing, but real change needs action now to protect the next generation.
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