Punjab has most instances of abuse, followed by Sindh, KP and Balochistan
Sahil, an organisation working in alleviating the suffering of those children who fall victim to sexual abuse recently published its ‘Cruel Numbers,’ a report documenting data collected during this year from January-June 2016. A total of 2,127 cases of child sexual abuse incidents were reported in newspapers across the country. This has increased by 36% as compared to the 1,565 cases recorded in Jan-Jun 2015.
The data also shows that first time in the age groups of 0-5, 6-10 and 11-15, more boys than girls were the victims of sexual abuse during Jan-Jun 2016, as compared to Jan-Jun 2015. However, in the age group of 16-18, more girls were the victims of sexual abuse. Out of the 2,127, 38% cases reported in the newspapers, the age of the victims has not been mentioned.
In this period the cases of gang sodomy increased by 71%, attempt of rape increased by 61%, sodomy increased by 46% and cases of rape increased by 20% as compared to the data of Jan-Jun 2015. However, 97 cases of child marriages have been reported in Jan-Jun 2016, compared to 34 cases in Jan-Jun 2015. The highest number of sexual assaults has been committed by acquaintances recorded at 946. The second highest numbers of abusers strangers being 413 in number.
The six monthly ‘Cruel Numbers’ data indicates that in most cases the places of abuse are not mentioned which are 1,079, while 318 cases were at the victim’s place, and 276 cases at the acquaintances’ place, whereas 164 cases in the fields, 115 in streets, 38 in Jungles, 30 in mansions, 22 in madrasahs, 18 in shops, 16 in schools, and 51 cases happened in other places like workplace, marriage Hall, hotel and shrine, etc.
From January to June 2016, out of total cases, 1,584 cases have been registered with the police which is a positive sign, whereas the status of 450 reported cases is not mentioned in newspapers. However, police refused to register 82 cases. Mostly, the number of cases that have been reported in rural areas are 80% while 20% cases took place in urban areas this year Jan-Jun 2016.
The data indicates that the highest number of cases has been reported from Punjab, while Sind is next with 24% reported cases. The reported cases from Sindh increased to 77% and cases from KP increased to 66% as compared to the data of Jan-Jun 2015.
Sahil, the organisation works for the protection of children from all forms of abuse, especially against child sexual abuse. Its media department, along with the four provincial offices, monitors 86 newspapers to identify cases of sexual abuse faced by children under 18 years of age. Sahil’s program specialises in child protection i.e., prevention, protection, interventions and research to provide awareness on all forms of violence against children, with support services in place for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.
