Child Abuse Warning – Newspaper

Even one child being abused is unforgivable, but incidents of child abuse in Pakistan show no signs of going away. Regular and shocking reports of child abuse point to a deep-rooted malaise that is not being addressed. More and more citizens, especially the weaker and vulnerable sections, feel dispensable to the state. For example, Sahil’s data last year — 4,200 reported cases of child abuse in 2023, of which 11 were abused every day — failed to elicit a strong response from the rulers. As a result, conviction rates were abysmal and the environment was not made safer for the youth. Children continue to be victims. New data in Sahil’s SixMonthsCruelNumbers shows that in the first half of 2024, 1,630 cases of child abuse were registered across Pakistan, with 862 cases of child sexual abuse, 668 of abduction, 82 of missing minors, 18 of child marriage and 48 cases of pornography after sexual exploitation. Of these, 59% were female victims and 41% were boys. It is important to highlight that while Punjab accounted for 78% of the total cases, 11% were from Sindh and 3% from KP.

We have little choice but to acknowledge that all research shows endemic acceptance of abuse and imbalance of power which is the root cause of child abuse. Furthermore, authorities, law enforcement and the judiciary should pay attention to the testimonies of survivors and expert opinions. Laws on all forms of child exploitation should not only be strengthened but also implemented to ensure conviction. The scourge of child abuse is on the verge of destroying our future. Therefore, NGOs, government agencies and security personnel must work together to formulate robust preventive mechanisms for a lasting protective environment. Every section of society must respond consistently to violations of our most precious resource.

Published in Dawn, August 10, 2024