1.5 million Pakistani children sexually exploited online yearly. Most victims knew abusers, stayed silent due to shame and family fears.
An estimated 1.5 million children in Pakistan experienced online sexual abuse in a single year, according to a UN report released this month. Most victims knew their abusers and stayed silent due to shame and fear of family or social backlash, with none reporting through formal channels like police or helplines.
- ▪About 85% of perpetrators were known to victims aged 12-17, often starting with friendly gaming conversations or promises of gifts and money
- ▪71% of Pakistani victims told no one about the abuse; zero children reported through police, helplines, or social workers
- ▪Victims cited stigma, shame, and fear of family or societal reaction as reasons for silence
- ▪44% of reported abuse occurred entirely online, with Snapchat and WhatsApp as common platforms
- ▪Girls face heightened risks of sexual extortion, leading to school withdrawal or restricted mobility
- ▪Around 74% of Pakistani children aged 12-17 are internet users, raising digital safety concerns
- ▪Punjab province passed a resolution banning children under 16 from social media, but faces criticism over enforcement and freedom-of-expression issues
- ▪Pakistan has legal frameworks addressing tech-facilitated offences against children but lacks implementation and contains loopholes, experts say
- ▪Sexual exploitation operates as a commercial ecosystem involving grooming, coercion, blackmail, and distribution of content for sums as low as Rs10,000
Source: according to media reports
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