1.5 Million Children in Pakistan Faced Online Sexual Abuse: Study

Notably, an estimated 1.5 million internet-using children aged 12 to 17 in Pakistan experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse within a single year, according to a new UNICEF-backed study.

Key points

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• UNICEF estimates that around 74% of Pakistani children aged 12 to 17 employ the internet, increasing the importance of online safety as access to digital platforms expands.
• The Disrupting Harm in Pakistan report discovered that perpetrators were already known to children in around 85% of noted incidents.
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• AFP highlighted the case of a 17-year-old girl identified as Zara Shah, whose name was changed for safety reasons.

AFP highlighted the case of a 17-year-old girl identified as Zara Shah, whose name was changed for safety reasons. She remarked a stranger approached her while she was playing an online game, gained her trust, and afterwards pressured her to send intimate images. When she refused, he threatened to contact her family. Four Gmail Settings That Can Support Block AI Scams and Spam. Most Perpetrators Were Known to Victims.

Notably, the Disrupting Harm in Pakistan report discovered that perpetrators were already known to children in around 85% of noted incidents.

Daniel Kardefelt, lead author of the UNICEF report, informed AFP that abuse can commence through apparently harmless interactions involving gaming, friendship, gifts, funds or romantic attention. Perpetrators can spend extended periods building trust using information available through social media.

While none of the surveyed children noted the abuse through formal channels such as police, helplines or social workers, the report additionally identified that 71% of victims did not tell anyone regarding their experience. Fear, stigma, shame and feasible family reactions were among the main reasons children remained silent.

For girls in particular, disclosure can carry extra consequences in conservative households, including restrictions on movement or education.

Zara informed AFP that she feared being prevented from attending school or leaving home if her family discovered what had happened. Snapchat and WhatsApp Among Common Platforms.

Mehek Naeem, director of Lahore-based children's rights organisation PAHCHAAN, informed AFP that around 44% of noted abuse occurred entirely online, with Snapchat and WhatsApp among the commonly cited platforms.

Experts cited in the AFP report remarked offenders can exploit financial vulnerability as well as fear and social stigma. Human rights lawyer Salman Afridi remarked technology can enable a chain involving grooming, coercion, blackmail, production and distribution of exploitative material. Pakistan to Set Minimum Age for Social Media, Ban Obscene Vlogs. Punjab Assembly Seeks Restrictions for Under-16s.

In practice, the findings come as the Punjab Assembly passed a resolution this month seeking restrictions on social media accounts for children under 16, along with stronger age-verification requirements and child-safety measures. The resolution calls for legislation rather than creating an enforceable ban itself.

Digital rights activist Usama Khilji resisted such a ban, telling AFP that enforcement would be challenging and children could bypass restrictions using VPNs. He additionally argued that a blanket restriction would affect children's freedom of expression.

Pakistan already has laws addressing technology-facilitated offences against children, but child-rights advocates cited by AFP remarked enforcement remains fragile and gaps remain in the existing legal framework.

UNICEF's report recommends stronger prevention, reporting mechanisms, victim backing and criminal justice responses as online sexual exploitation, blackmail and other technology-enabled risks continue to evolve. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

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