–2,322 ‘reported’ child abuse cases in Jan-June 2018 mirror dark, savage societal reality

–Number of child abuse cases skyrocket in the past three years, as Saahil issues its ‘cruel numbers’

ISLAMABAD: The findings of Sahil’s six-month “Cruel Numbers” report (Jan-Jun 2018) show that a total 2,322 child abuse cases were reported in newspapers from all four provinces, including Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

The data reveals that now, almost 12 children have been abused per day during the period January-June 2018. In comparison with last year’s data, this year, the cases of child abuse have increased by 32 per cent as compared to the 1,764 cases of January-June 2017.

The major crime categories of the reported cases from January-June 2018 are abduction (542), sodomy (381), rape (360), missing children (236), attempt of rape (224), gang sodomy (167), attempt of Sodomy (112), gang rape (92) and child marriages (53).

“Cruel Numbers” report is a research on child sexual abuse cases reported in newspapers. The purpose of the research is to provide fact and figures about child sexual abuse and its dynamics and to contribute to the existing information on child sexual abuse in Pakistan.

This year from January to June 2018 a total of 57 cases were reported of murder after sexual abuse.

The statistics of the report show that out of the total reported 2,322 cases, (1298) 56 per cent of the victims were girls and (1024) 44 per cent were boys.

The data reveals that 622 children in the age bracket 11-15 years and 526 children between the ages of 6-10 years are most vulnerable to abuse.

Provincial divide statistics show that 65 per cent cases were from Punjab, 25 per cent cases from Sindh, three per cent cases from Islamabad, three per cent cases from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), two per cent cases from Balochistan, 21 cases from AJK and two cases were reported from GB in newspapers.

Out of the total reported cases, 74 per cent were from rural areas and 26 per cent cases were reported in urban areas.

The statistics also show that 89 per cent of cases were registered with the police. Whereas in 32 cases, the police refused to register the case, 17 cases were unregistered with the police and registration status of 196 cases were not mentioned in newspapers.

It is pertinent to mention the reports from the past two years. The “Cruel Numbers 2016”, a year-long survey by Sahil all over Pakistan showed that cases involving child sexual abuse that include abduction, missing children and child marriages, stood at a staggering 4,139 during 2016. According to the data collected, the number of abused children average at 11 per day.

The findings of “Cruel Numbers 2017” showed that in the year 2017, a total 3,445 child abuse cases were reported in newspapers from all four provinces, including ICT, AJK, GB and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

Whereas the above figures are compiled on a year-wise basis, the biannual report of 2018 shows an immense increase than previous years.