Mr. Barkat Ali Ansari, the Provincial Coordinator of Sahil on Thursday shared the statistical report ‘Cruel Numbers 2023. The cruel report 2023, which is based on child sexual abuse and child marriages cases, which were reported in 81 national, regional and local daily newspapers. The data also includes cases directly received by Sahil which offers free legal and psychological aid to victims of CSA. Cases reported to other organizations have also been included. The annual report of 2023 shows that, the child sexual abuse rate in Pakistan continues to be more than 11children per day.
Total number of cases reported during 2023 are 4213 including both boys and girls. Majority of the cases are reported in the crime category of rape/sodomy and abduction for sexual purposes respectively. However, we believe that these numbers do not represent the total numbers of such incidents in Pakistan – keeping in mind that such incidents often are under-reported.
A gender split analysis shows that female reported cases of Child Sexual Abuse are more in number than male cases. Out of total 4213 children who were sexually abused, 1962 were boys and 2251 were girls.
In this time period, major categories of crimes are abduction, rape/sodomy and gang rape/sodomy 1833 girls and boys kidnapped. Under the reported cases of rape and sodomy 562 boys and 415 girls. Numbers of gang rape/sodomy cases are also very high, 168 were girls and 744 were boys, According to the statistics from 4213, the highest number of abusers are acquaintances and number is 1787, and second was stranger’s number 876. Rests of the categories are relative, neighbor, female abettor, Police, Molvi’s, doctors and others.
The age group that is most vulnerable to child sexual abuse differs for both males and females. The most vulnerable age group is between 11-15 years, which are 704 boys, and 600 girls assaulted. Whereas girls aged between 6-10 years as 439 boys and 274 girls and 16-18 years as 138 boys and 354 girls and from 1-5 years 91 girls and 120 boys were abused. The 561 boys and 932 girls’ ages have not been mentioned by the newspapers.
Amid the geographical areas, the highest number of cases was reported from Punjab province with almost 2464. It is followed by Sindh, where 885 cases took place, 247 cases reported from the Federal Capital, 195 cases from the KPK, 47 cases from Baluchistan as well. 13 cases from Azad Jammu and Kashmir have also been reported.
The division between urban and rural areas is not different. 49% cases are reported from urban areas and 51% cases are reported from rural areas.
Most of the CSA cases registered in police Station numbers 3824. 357 case statuses were not mentioned and 13cases were not registered.
According to cruel number 2023, lot of cases happened in abuser place numbers 600, second number of cases happed children their homes of 504, rest of cases happened in Haveli, Hotel, Hostel, field, Masjid, Police stations, School, Shops and working place and others places.
Child Marriages
According to cruel No 2023, 29 case reported in Pakistan, when we see age of children, we find that, 1 to 5 years children 01 case, 6 to 10 year children 2 case reported, 11 to 15 years 20 cases and 16 to 18 years1 case reported and 5 cases age not mentioned,
In Sindh 22 cases were reported, most of the cases reported from Laraka 4, Dadu 2, Khairpur 2 Ghotki 3 cases reported.
