The number of victims of child sexual abuse and molestation grows each year in Pakistan. In 1997 one child per day was raped, gang raped or kidnapped for sexual gratification in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. In 2010 a total of 2,252 children were sexually abused throughout the country. In 2012 a total of 4,543 abusers were involved in abusing children. Almost 67 percent of the cases were reported from rural areas whereas 33 percent were reported from urban areas. In 2014, a British channel's ran a documentary on the sexual abuse of street children, stating that an estimated of 90% of such children have been sexually abused in their lives.
There are 1.5 million street children in Pakistan and more than one million are victims of sexual abuse. These reports are shocking and repulsive to the core. The scale and extent of the abuses are unparalleled.
One of the biggest scandal of child sexual abuse Pakistan has recently been revealed; it is probably the worst child sexual abuse scandal in the country's history. 400 video recordings were found showing more than 280 children being sexually abused, most of whom are under 14. Thousands of copies of these videos are believed to have been sold from Hussain Khanwala village in Kasur district, for just Rs.50 each. If reports are to be believed, then in some videos victims are forced to abuse each other, too.
One of the victims exposed this child porn mafia, stating that, "They beat me, drugged me then molested me, and they said if you tell anyone we will kill you." This case came under the media's attention when parents who were protesting against the police's failure to arrest the gang responsible for the abuse, clashed with police officers in Kasur.
"Everyone in this village is a victim, our children both boys and girls are blackmailed," said one victim's mother. Only six people have been arrested, while the main villains are still free to do whatever they want. Who will do justice to them?”
That Kasur’s child abuse scandal is public, doesn't mean that this heinous crime is restricted to this part of the country, alone. Child abuse is rampant in Pakistan, everyone secretly admits that it is a problem, but hardly ever openly. Even spreading awareness and creating prevention against these vicious acts is considered shameful. A majority of people in Pakistan doesn’t speak of it. Because of this, children have to suffer grievous and painful mental and physical torture.
Why have we become so insensitive? Our insensitivity is what needs to change. Are we waiting for our own children to go through this torture to take a stand against such crimes and criminals? No, this is the time for it.
Let's speak against the country’s biggest crime, child abuse, in order to show our concern for the country. Let’s shield their innocence. Let’s join hands to protect our future. Will you?