Pakistan is experiencing a disturbing increase in violence against children, with 7,608 cases reported nationwide in 2024 so far — an average of 21 cases per day — according to a new report by the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO).
The findings, detailed in SSDO’s Mapping Study on Violence Against Children in Pakistan 2024, reveal a systemic failure in child protection and justice, with conviction rates for most offences falling below 1%.
Compiled using data acquired from provincial police departments through Right to Information (RTI) laws, the report categorizes the reported crimes as physical and sexual abuse, kidnapping, child trafficking, child marriage, and child labour.
Among the 7,608 cases:
- 2,954 involved sexual abuse
- 2,437 were kidnapping incidents
- 895 related to child labour
- 683 reported physical abuse
- 586 involved child trafficking
- 53 were cases of child marriage
While child trafficking and child labour saw relatively higher conviction rates — 45% and 37% respectively — the majority of offences, particularly sexual abuse, kidnapping, and child marriage, resulted in almost no convictions. Notably, there were zero convictions for child marriage cases across the country.
The report also questions the enforcement of the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act 2018, which prescribes a Rs1 million fine and up to 10 years of imprisonment for child trafficking. In practice, courts often impose minor fines and release the accused, undermining the law’s intent.
Provincial Breakdown:
- Punjab: Recorded the highest number of cases with 6,083 total — including 2,506 sexual abuse and 2,189 kidnappings — but only 28 and 4 convictions, respectively. Physical abuse (455 cases) led to just 7 convictions. Child trafficking (457 cases) saw 267 convictions, while 450 child labour cases resulted in 66 convictions. All 26 child marriage cases ended without conviction.
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Reported 1,102 cases, including 366 of sexual abuse and 208 of physical abuse, with zero convictions in both categories. Out of 93 kidnapping cases, 6 for trafficking, 3 child marriages, and 426 child labour incidents, only the latter saw convictions (267).
- Sindh: Reported 354 cases, including 152 kidnappings, 121 trafficking, 24 child marriages, and 19 cases each of physical and sexual abuse. No convictions were reported in any category.
- Balochistan: Logged 69 cases — 63 sexual abuse, 43 kidnappings, and one physical abuse case. The province recorded only two convictions each for sexual abuse and kidnapping; no convictions were reported for other crimes.
SSDO Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas emphasized that these statistics reflect just the visible portion of a far larger crisis, as many cases remain unreported.
