A child was sexually abused every two hours in Pakistan this year, NGO says
A child was sexually abused every two hours in Pakistan this year, NGO says Al Jazeera English
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Child Sexual Abuse in Pakistan: A Report by Sahil NGO
Introduction
An average of 12 children per day – or one every two hours – were subjected to sexual abuse in Pakistan in 2023, according to a report by Islamabad-based NGO Sahil. The report highlights the alarming prevalence of child sexual abuse in the country and calls for urgent action to address this issue.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 5: Gender Equality – Protecting children, regardless of their gender, from sexual abuse is crucial for achieving gender equality.
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – Strengthening the judicial system and ensuring justice for victims of child sexual abuse is essential for building strong institutions.
Key Findings
- Between January and June 2023, a total of 2,227 cases of child sexual abuse were reported to the authorities in Pakistan.
- The cases included 1,207 girls and 1,020 boys, with most victims falling between the ages of six and 15.
- Out of the recorded cases, 47 percent involved children between the ages of six and 15, with more boys (593) being sexually abused compared to girls (457).
- In 912 cases, the accused were acquaintances of the child victims.
Regional Distribution
- Punjab, the most populous province in Pakistan, reported almost 75 percent of the cases.
- Sindh province had 314 cases, while the federal territory of Islamabad saw 161 cases.
- The lack of reported cases from Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and most impoverished province, is concerning.
Challenges and Solutions
- The weak judicial system and societal trend of settling child sexual abuse cases out of court contribute to a lack of conviction.
- The conviction rate in children’s sexual abuse cases is less than 2 percent.
- Social and economic pressures faced by victims’ families, along with the stigma associated with sexual abuse, hinder the reporting and prosecution of such cases.
- The government is working on implementing better mechanisms to protect children from sexual abuse.
Conclusion
The prevalence of child sexual abuse in Pakistan is alarming and requires immediate attention. Efforts should be made to strengthen the judicial system, raise awareness about child rights, and provide support to victims and their families. By addressing this issue, Pakistan can make significant progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation | – Number of reported cases of child sexual abuse – Gender breakdown of child sexual abuse cases |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | – Number of reported cases of child sexual abuse – Conviction rate in children’s sexual abuse cases |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.18: By 2020, enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including for least developed countries and small island developing States, to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely, and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location, and other characteristics relevant in national contexts | – Availability of high-quality data on child sexual abuse cases disaggregated by gender, age, and geographic location |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 5: Gender Equality
The issue of child sexual abuse, as highlighted in the article, is connected to SDG 5. This goal aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual exploitation. Child sexual abuse affects both girls and boys, but the article mentions that more boys were reported to be sexually abused compared to girls.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The issue of child sexual abuse is also connected to SDG 16, which focuses on ending abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and violence against children. The article mentions the low conviction rate in children’s sexual abuse cases, indicating a need for stronger institutions and justice systems to address this issue.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
SDG 17 is relevant to the issue of child sexual abuse as it emphasizes the importance of partnerships and data availability. The article mentions the need for better reporting mechanisms and data collection in different provinces of Pakistan to understand the extent of the problem.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation
This target is relevant to the issue of child sexual abuse mentioned in the article. It aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual exploitation. The article highlights the cases of child sexual abuse reported in Pakistan, which aligns with this target.
Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
Target 16.2 focuses on ending abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and violence against children. The article mentions the cases of child sexual abuse and the low conviction rate in such cases, indicating a need to address this issue and ensure justice for the victims.
Target 17.18: By 2020, enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including for least developed countries and small island developing States, to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely, and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location, and other characteristics relevant in national contexts
Target 17.18 emphasizes the importance of data availability and disaggregation. The article highlights the need for better reporting mechanisms and data collection in different provinces of Pakistan to understand the extent of child sexual abuse. Improving data collection and disaggregation can help in addressing this issue effectively.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
The article mentions several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
– Number of reported cases of child sexual abuse: This indicator can help track the prevalence and trends of child sexual abuse over time.
– Gender breakdown of child sexual abuse cases: This indicator can provide insights into the gender dynamics of child sexual abuse and help identify any disparities or patterns.
– Conviction rate in children’s sexual abuse cases: This indicator reflects the effectiveness of the justice system in addressing child sexual abuse and ensuring justice for the victims.
– Availability of high-quality data on child sexual abuse cases disaggregated by gender, age, and geographic location: This indicator assesses the availability and quality of data needed to understand the extent of child sexual abuse and develop targeted interventions.
4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation | – Number of reported cases of child sexual abuse – Gender breakdown of child sexual abuse cases |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | – Number of reported cases of child sexual abuse – Conviction rate in children’s sexual abuse cases |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.18: By 2020, enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including for least developed countries and small island developing States, to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely, and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location, and other characteristics relevant in national contexts | – Availability of high-quality data on child sexual abuse cases disaggregated by gender, age, and geographic location |
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Source: aljazeera.com
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