Child Abuse in Pakistan: The Justice Gap in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Child abuse remains one of the most critical protection challenges facing Pakistan. Across the country, from Karachi to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), thousands of children are subjected every year to physical violence, neglect, sexual abuse, and exploitation across the country. The latest Reported cases in the first half of 2026 demonstrate the continued vulnerability of children and persistent weakness in the country’s child protection, justice, and social welfare systems.

The rights monitoring report of 2026 in Pakistan underscores 1,914 cases of child abuse during the first six months of the year, equivalent to 11 cases every day.

Astoundingly, Pakistan’s broader record on child protection is also concerning at the global level, with its performance in the region being the lowest in South Asia.

However, it ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child more than three decades ago.

In the same way, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), deserved a particular attention, according to official record of child sexual abuse cases have shown an upward trend over the past seven years, particularly since 2020; according to official police data, child sexual abuses have surged 1.5 times between 2018 and 2023.

In Punjab, the ratio of boys’ victimization is higher than that of females, due to their higher mobility away from home and participation in informal employment, exposing them to predators. Rural districts consequently report higher rates of abuse than urban areas, which is attributed to factors such as lower literacy, limited awareness, and less access to protective services.

Recent events in districts Haripur and Charsadda have once again raised serious questions about the effectiveness of child protection mechanisms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In Haripur, a five-year-old girl, Ayat Noor, was reported missing and was later found dead in an abandoned well. According to the official’s report, the post-mortem examination indicates that the child had been sexually abused before her death.

The case generated widespread public concern and prompted a serious response from the government. While condoling with the family members, the chief minister publicly expressed his commitment and ensured immediate justice.Such cases, however, should not be viewed only as individual tragedies. They also raise a broader question: what happens after a child disappearance and an FIR is register?

In, Pakistan’s child protection crisis is the widening gap between reported cases and convictions. For instance, In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the percentage of accused convictions in child abuse remains extremely low compared with the number of FIRs registered. These challenges are compounded by several failures, including limited forensic capacity, poorly trained officers, witness intimidation, lengthy trials, and a cultural preference for informal settlement over formal prosecution.

In responses to these challenges, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has undertaken several measures to improve child protection. The provincial Assembly has called for more stringent legislation, improved DNA and forensic facilities, and changes to legal procedures to prevent the perpetrators from escaping accountability. The provincial government has also been working to strengthen these structures. Its 2026 governance reporting included a target to strengthen 12 existing Child Protection Units, fill vacant positions and establish at least five additional units.

These steps are important but it cannot address the underlying problems. Child protection policies and institutions must be adequately funded and expanded, accessible to children and their families in remote districts.

The provincial government should adopt a more comprehensive and responsive child protection system. Federal and provincial governments, law-enforcement agencies, institutions, and civil society communities should cooperate. First, the legal loopholes that allow the perpetrators to evade prosecution need to be fixed.

Second, child protection units, forensic laboratories, shelters, and rehabilitation services should be expanded, especially in remote areas and districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other provinces. Third, accessible reporting mechanisms should be paired with a secure central data registry to enable better tracking and resource allocation.

Last but not least, child abuse should become an integral part of the national policy with increased awareness, including school-based protection programs, parental education, and better community monitoring. Protecting children from child abuse is not just about making strict laws but ensuring that the laws are implemented in practice when it is needed. For Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the task is clear: to ensure every child safety, with dignity and justice.

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