ISLAMABAD: The findings of “Cruel Numbers 2017” shows that in the year 2017, a total 3445 child abuse cases were reported in newspapers from all four provinces including Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit Baltistan (GB), and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
Sahil held its Child-Friendly Newspaper, Best Volunteer Award and launch of the Cruel Numbers 2017, here on Wednesday at the National Press Club. Sahil awarded Child-Friendly Newspaper Award and Best Volunteer Award, 2017 to nominees from all over the country.
On the occasion, Sahil launched Cruel Numbers 2017, a research on child sexual abuse cases reported in newspapers during 2017. The purpose of the research is to provide fact and figures about child sexual abuse and its dynamics and to contribute to existing information on CSA in Pakistan.
On the occasion, Sahil Executive Director Manizeh Bano said that in previous years the cases of commercial sexual exploitation of children have been reported from Kasur, Sawat, and Jaranwala. Hundreds of cases have been reported but only few victim families came forward for seeking justice.
The abusers kidnap children, use drugs, made videos, sexually abuse and even murdered them. She said that commercial sexual exploitation of children and trafficking was now a million dollar business globally. She said that media can play a vital role in fostering coordination with the government and the civil society to create widespread awareness.
In this regard, the electronic, print and social media can play a positive role regarding child protection and safety measures. She emphasised that now it was the time to come forward and break the silence and take practical steps to make Pakistan a safe secure and protected place for the children.
Sharing the findings of the Cruel Numbers 2017 report, Senior Programme Officer Mumtaz Gohar said that the data reveals that now in a day more than 9 children have been abused during the year 2017. The major crime categories of the reported cases are, abduction 1039, missing children 517, rape 467, sodomy 366, an attempt of rape 206, gang sodomy 180, gang rape 158 and 109 cases of child marriages.
This year, 109 cases were reported of murder after sexual abuse, it shows that 9% cases have increased as compared to 100 cases reported last year 2016. A gender analysis shows that 58% girls and 42% boys have been murdered after sexual abuse in 2017. In 2017, total 143 cases of child marriages have been reported in newspapers. Out of the total cases, 89% were girls and 11% were boys.
The provincial divide of child marriages indicates that 63% cases from Sindh, 32% from Punjab, five cases from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and two cases were reported from AJK. Out of the child marriages, 83% cases were reported from rural areas and 17% from urban areas.
On the occasion, the award for Child-Friendly Newspaper was presented in two categories, i.e. national and regional newspaper. The awards were presented to Nawa-i-Waqt of Lahore, winner of the award in the national category, Daily Kawish of Hyderabad winner of the award in the regional category.
Lubna Hayauddin received the Best Volunteer Award and two special mention awards for volunteers were also presented on the basis of the initiatives taken by them in their respective communities to raise awareness on child protection.
