Key Takeaways
- 1.5 million internet-using children in Pakistan experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a single year.
- Artificial intelligence and overlapping global crises are creating new dangers for children.
- Victims often do not report abuse due to fear, stigma, and family repercussions.
A new study has revealed that 1.5 million internet-using children in Pakistan faced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a single year, according to Unicef, ECPAT International and INTERPOL. This alarming figure highlights the growing threat of online abuse in the country.
The study, titled 'Disrupting Harm in Pakistan,' underscores the vulnerability of children to various forms of abuse, including unwanted sexual images or conversations, demands for intimate photographs, and sexual threats or blackmail. These incidents are often perpetrated by individuals the children already know, with 85% of the reported cases involving familiar perpetrators.
Social media platforms emerged as the most common setting for these abuses, accounting for 44% of reported instances. However, children often remain silent due to fear, stigma, and the potential for family repercussions. More than half of the children who experienced such abuse did not report it to anyone, let alone through formal channels such as helplines or the police.
Najat Maalla M’jid, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Violence Against Children, presented her findings at the UN General Assembly, warning that rapid technological advancements are creating new risks for children. She highlighted the emerging threat of AI-generated sexual material, which poses significant challenges to child protection.
The study also points to the broader context of child protection challenges, which are exacerbated by poverty, displacement, and disrupted access to essential services. Economic hardships and climate-related emergencies further increase children's vulnerability, making them more susceptible to exploitation.
Ms M’jid emphasized the need for safe, confidential, and accessible reporting systems, as well as support mechanisms that allow children to seek help without fear of blame or punishment. She called on governments to strengthen protections for children facing multiple and overlapping crises, including those related to conflict, natural disasters, and the climate crisis.
The findings challenge the perception that online abuse is mainly perpetrated by strangers, as 85% of the incidents involved familiar individuals. Boys, too, risk being overlooked due to social expectations about masculinity and the reluctance to discuss sexual abuse.
The study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to protect children online and offline. It also highlights the importance of addressing the root causes of vulnerability, such as poverty and displacement, to create a safer environment for children.
