Plight of children

The plight of children in Pakistan can be gauged by a recent report that says that in the first six months of 2025, over 4,000 cases of violence against children were reported in Punjab alone. Perhaps even more concerning is that the report by Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO) is based on official police data, meaning that these are only cases where victims and their families came forward. Countless other victims will never become known because of fear, shame, threats or a combination of all three.

The report says that at least 23 children in Punjab suffered from violence every single day from January to June this year. This relentless violence, coupled with a justice system that fails to protect its youngest citizens, demands immediate and concerted action from all sectors of society. The 4,150 registered cases include 717 cases of sexual abuse, or about four cases every day. Meanwhile, of the cases that entered the legal process, a staggering 3,791 remain under trial, and only 12 convictions were secured across all categories of violence against children, including zero for sexual abuse. The lack of judicial consequences plays a major role in the perpetuation of the cycle of impunity.

It is also worth noting that while Punjab generally has higher reporting for crimes than other provinces, other studies have shown that the rates of crimes against children in other provinces are significantly higher. Federal and provincial authorities continually miss the mark not only in preventing the crimes but also in mitigating the circumstances that allow for such crimes to occur, including poverty.

The government has expressed commitment to child rights on the international stage and has taken some initiatives to combat child labour in key industries. However, these are clearly not enough. The data from Punjab is a siren call. That such numbers can exist in a 'civilised' society without generating visceral outrage is a reflection of how little we actually care about protecting the most vulnerable Pakistanis.