Child Sexual Abuse in Pakistan: Patterns of Victimisation, Perpetrator Relationships and Implications for Child Protection Practice

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is one of the least reported and least known types of child violence in low and middle income countries. The study analysed 2003 reported cases of CSA documented in Cruel numbers 2025, the annual child protection report published by Sahil, a leading child protection organisation in Pakistan. Using secondary descriptive analysis, the study examines patterns of victimisation, relation of the perpetrator to the child, environment of child abuse, and the implications for safeguarding children. Results show that victims aged 11–15 years were the most common age group. Acquaintances were cited as offenders in about two thirds of the cases and most of the incidents took place in the victim's or perpetrator's home. The results contradict prevailing narratives of CSA that largely focus on stranger danger and instead focus on the key role of trusted individuals in children's social worlds. The study calls for a shift from the awareness campaigns based on good touch, bad touch and what are and how to get away from danger signs in a child protection strategy.