UNICEF reports 1.5 million Pakistani children suffer online sexual exploitation

UNICEF’s latest assessment estimates that 1.5 million Pakistani children experienced online sexual abuse within a year, with 85 percent of perpetrators known to the victims, who are typically between 12 and 17 years old. The grooming often starts through gaming interactions or promises of gifts, and abusers may spend months building trust using social-media information. In Pakistan, 71 percent of victims do not disclose the abuse, and none reported it through police, helplines, or social workers, largely due to stigma and fear of family repercussions.

Snapchat and WhatsApp were identified as frequent platforms for the exploitation. A recent Punjab resolution seeks to bar children under 16 from social media, but digital-rights activists warn it is hard to enforce and may infringe on expression. Experts note gaps in existing laws and the ease with which vulnerable children can be coerced for as little as 10,000 rupees.