Child protection NGO Sahil, in a report Cruel Number released on Thursday, revealed that at least 173 children were gang-raped in Pakistan in the first six months of 2020, whereas there were 227 reports of attempted sexual assault.
According to the report, 38 children were killed after they were sexually abused. More than eight children were subjected to sexual abuse on average every day in the first six months of 2020 in Pakistan.
Sahil reported that as of June this year, 497 children were sexually abused. 57% of cases were reported in Punjab, 32% were reported in Sindh and 6% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The report further said that more than 35 cases were reported in Islamabad, 22 in Balochistan, 10 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and one in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Out of the total reported cases, 62% were from rural areas and 38% reported from urban areas. Of the total children who were victims of sexual abuse, 53% were girls and 47% boys.
Sahil also highlighted that 51 cases of underage marriage were reported.
The results were taken from 84 newspapers and cases reported in all four provinces, the capital city, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
