Majority of Child Abuse Victims in Pakistan Aged 11–15: Sahil
A report by the non-governmental organization Sahil has revealed alarming findings regarding child sexual abuse and exploitation in Pakistan.
According to the report, a total of 1,956 cases of child abuse were reported nationwide, with 950 cases of sexual abuse reported in the first six months of 2025 alone. From January to June, 605 cases of child abduction were registered. Similarly, 192 cases of missing children were reported, while 34 cases of child marriages or wani were documented this year.
Total of 1,956 cases of child abuse were reported nationwide, with 950 cases of sexual abuse
The report further revealed that 62 cases involved newborn babies found either dead or alive at different locations. Among the reported cases, 1,019 victims (52%) were girls, while 875 victims (44%) were boys, and 3% of the cases involved newborns. The most affected age group was 11 to 15 years, with 658 cases of sexual assault reported in this category. Of these, 72% were from Punjab and 22% from Sindh.
In addition, 6% of the cases came from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and the federal capital. The report highlighted that 59% of the cases were reported from urban areas and 41% from rural areas, while 389 cases lacked age details.
It was also noted that in 49% of the cases, the perpetrators were acquaintances, while 20% involved strangers. Moreover, 83% of the victims lodged complaints with the police. The report mentioned that 27 cases were not officially registered at police stations, and in one case, the police refused registration.
