Over 7,600 Cases of Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Reported in Pakistan in 2024

Islamabad: The Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) has released its 2024 report revealing that over 7,600 incidents of child abuse and sexual assault were reported across Pakistan last year. On average, 21 children fell victim to abuse every day. The data was gathered through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
According to SSDO’s report, a total of 7,608 cases were recorded, including 2,954 incidents of sexual assault, 2,437 cases of child abduction, 683 incidents of physical abuse, 586 cases of child trafficking, 895 instances of child labor, and 53 cases of child marriage. However, despite the alarming figures, the conviction rate remains shockingly low, with national conviction rates being as low as 1% in cases of physical and sexual assault, and 0.2% for abduction cases.
Punjab recorded the highest number of incidents, with 6,083 cases reported, including 455 cases of physical abuse and 2,506 sexual assault cases. Sadly, only a few perpetrators faced punishment. For instance, in the 2,506 sexual assault cases, only 28 individuals were convicted, and in 2,189 abduction cases, only four criminals were sentenced.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported a total of 1,102 cases, including 366 sexual assault cases and 208 instances of physical abuse. However, no convictions were made for these crimes. In Sindh, 354 child abuse cases were recorded, including 152 abductions and 121 cases of child trafficking, yet no one was sentenced. Similarly, Balochistan reported a total of 69 cases, with convictions only confirmed in sexual assault and abduction cases.
SSDO Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas emphasized that the numbers only represent reported incidents, and the actual number of cases may be much higher. He pointed out that Punjab has a relatively better reporting system compared to other provinces, which need to strengthen their mechanisms for timely and transparent reporting of such incidents.
The report also raises concerns about the low conviction rates and calls for the establishment of special courts for children, alongside urgent legal reforms. SSDO has recommended several measures to improve child protection, including financial penalties for institutions failing to report abuse, a multi-tiered accountability system, and the establishment of specialized courts for swift trials of child abuse cases.
The organization has also urged the inclusion of psychological, digital, and economic exploitation in the legal framework, along with forensic training, witness protection, and the collection of evidence. Furthermore, SSDO calls for the creation of child protection committees, cultural awareness campaigns in rural areas, and training for schools on child safety.
The report concludes with a warning that if decisive actions are not taken, Pakistan risks another generation of children falling victim to the failure of the child protection system.