A recent report by the UN children's agency, UNICEF, has shed light on the alarming rate of online sexual exploitation of children in Pakistan. According to the report, approximately 1.5 million children in the country experience online sexual abuse every year. The victims, mostly aged between 12 and 17, are often targeted by perpetrators who build trust through friendly conversations, gaming interactions, or promises of gifts, money, or romance.
The UNICEF report reveals that around 85 percent of perpetrators are known to the victims, and in Muslim-majority Pakistan, 71 percent of victims do not tell anyone about the abuse. The silence is largely due to stigma, shame, and fears over how their families or society may react. Furthermore, no child surveyed reported the abuse through formal channels, including police, helplines, or social workers.
Experts point out that loopholes in existing laws and lack of implementation hinder efforts to address tech-facilitated offenses against children. Human rights lawyer Salman Afridi notes that economic vulnerability can be exploited for amounts as small as 10,000 Pakistani rupees ($36) in exchange for the production of sexual content. This highlights the commercial ecosystem of exploitation that exists.
The online platforms where these abuses take place are varied, with Snapchat and WhatsApp being common settings. According to Mehek Naeem, director of PAHCHAAN, a children's rights organization, around 44 percent of reported abuse was entirely online. Girls, in particular, face heightened risks of sexual extortion in conservative Pakistani society, which can lead to restrictions on their mobility or withdrawal from school.
The provincial government in Punjab has passed a resolution to bar children under 16 from using social media, but the move has faced opposition. Digital rights activist Usama Khilji argues that the ban will be challenging to implement and that children can circumvent it through VPNs. He also emphasizes that children have the right to freedom of expression, which a ban would infringe upon.
For victims like 17-year-old Zara Shah, the experience of online sexual exploitation has been traumatic. She was targeted by a stranger while playing a computer game and was threatened with being exposed to her family if she did not comply with the perpetrator's demands. Zara's story is a testament to the fear and anxiety that many victims endure in silence.
As the number of internet users among children aged 12 to 17 in Pakistan continues to grow, concerns over online safety are mounting. With 74 percent of children in this age group estimated to be internet users, the need for effective measures to prevent online sexual exploitation has become more pressing.
Key points
- An estimated 1.5 million children in Pakistan experience online sexual abuse every year.
- 71 percent of victims do not tell anyone about the abuse due to stigma, shame, and fear of societal repercussions.
- Loopholes in existing laws and lack of implementation hinder efforts to address tech-facilitated offenses against children.
