Zainab Khan

‎Child‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ abuse is one of the most neglected issues among the problems in Pakistan. Children constitute the most significant segment of the population, who have been subjected to sexual and physical abuse, and it is the ones that are entrusted with their care that have been found to be the abusers. Sahil, in its report 2024, documented more than 2,200 cases of child sexual abuse in six months ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌only. Nevertheless, the actual figure, as per the experts, is far more than that due to the stigma and silence. An illegal orphanage in Sahiwal was one of the most horrifying cases which at least 18 kids were the victims of serial abuse. The 2020 Zainab Alert Bill, which was supposed to be an immediate response to the cases of missing and abused children, is still not implemented properly, the child protection units that are grossly underfunded are having a hard time carrying out their duties. NGOs have helped in filling the void by giving counseling, raising awareness, providing legal aid while schools conducting safe touch programs have made more children courageous to speak out. However, there are still a lot of places where children are not reached. Pakistan is at a point where it can no longer rely on laws alone to bring about change. Real reforms, community involvement, and a strong support system are the things that will help the country to protect its children and move towards lasting change for all its ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌citizens.