Civil Society Demands Urgent Action to End Rising Violence Against Children -

TIMES REPORT

PESHAWAR: The EVAW/G Alliance Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Child Rights Movement (CRM), in collaboration with child rights advocates, civil society organizations, community leaders, and concerned citizens, today held a peaceful awareness-raising demonstration at the Peshawar Press Club. The gathering aimed to draw national attention to the rising incidents of violence, abuse, exploitation, and neglect against children and to advocate for comprehensive, rights-based reforms to promote and protect child rights across Pakistan.This peaceful protest underscores the collective commitment of civil society to strengthen prevention measures, ensure faster access to justice, and build more effective, coordinated child protection systems.
The alarming rise in child abuse cases demands immediate national action. According to the latest data released by Sahil, a leading child rights organization, 3,630 child abuse cases were reported across Pakistan in 2025, an 8 percent increase from the previous year. On average, more than nine children suffered abuse daily. Girls accounted for 53 percent of victims, while boys represented 47 percent. The major categories included abduction (1,107 cases), rape (522 cases), sodomy (596 cases), missing children (365 cases), and other grave violations such as gang rape, attempted sexual assault, and child marriage.These statistics represent only reported cases. Experts widely recognize that the actual number of incidents is significantly higher due to underreporting driven by stigma, fear, social pressures, and inadequate reporting mechanisms. Violence against children remains one of the most pressing yet under-addressed human rights challenges in the country.
The system needs to shift from reaction to prevention.While existing legal frameworks provide a foundation, the continued rise in cases highlights critical gaps in prevention, early intervention, institutional coordination, and survivor support. Sustainable child protection requires a shift from reactive measures to proactive, prevention-focused systems that safeguard children in homes, schools, madrassas, workplaces, online spaces, and communities.
Key Demands:
Launch widespread community and district-level awareness campaigns.
Establish robust child safeguarding mechanisms in all educational and religious institutions.
Build the capacity of parents, teachers, social workers, healthcare professionals, police, and community leaders to identify and address risks early.
Invest in community-based child protection structures and child-friendly reporting channels and promote meaningful child participation in protection initiatives.
Ensure speedy and child-friendly justice.
Implement fast-track investigations and prosecutions for crimes against children,adopt child-sensitive judicial procedures that minimize trauma for young survivors, ensure timely convictions and stringent accountability for perpetrators and enhance specialized training for police, prosecutors, and judicial officers.
Establish an integrated national referral and support system.
Create a seamless, multi-sectoral referral mechanism connecting police, Child Protection Units, health services, legal aid, and psychosocial support.
Standardize case management protocols nationwide and guarantee immediate access to medical, legal, psychosocial, and rehabilitation services for child survivors.
Develop robust child protection data and accountability systems.
Establish a centralized, integrated child protection information management system; improve data collection, analysis, and regular public reporting on trends and risks; and utilize evidence-based data for policy planning, resource allocation, and performance monitoring.
Protecting children is a collective duty that transcends government institutions. Families, religious leaders, educational institutions, media, civil society, development partners, and policymakers must work together to create safe and nurturing environments for Pakistan’s children.
The EVAW/G Alliance Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Child Rights Movement reaffirm their dedication to sustained advocacy, awareness raising, capacity building, and policy engagement until every child in Pakistan is protected from violence, abuse, exploitation, and neglect.
We urge the Government of Pakistan, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, provincial authorities across the country, law enforcement agencies, and the judiciary to act decisively and without delay.
Children cannot wait. Prevention cannot wait. Justice cannot wait.