Child abuse cases on the rise

* 992 children sexually abused in first six months of 2008
* Acquaintances involved in 75 percent cases
* Children from 11 to 15 years of age more vulnerable
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C11%5C01%5Cstory_1-11-2008_p\
g11_1
By Jamila Achakzai
ISLAMABAD: Child sexual abuse (CSA) cases are on the rise in the country, as in
2007 the number of such cases was four per day, which rose to average 5.4 cases
daily during January 2008 to June 2008.

According to Sahil, an NGO working for child rights and protection, the actual
figures could be much bigger than the reported cases as many such incidents go
unreported due to involvement of children's acquaintances. "It is difficult to
measure the prevalence of CSA in our society. Many incidents go unreported,
especially those committed by the children's family members," Rubina Shams of
Sahil told Daily Times on Friday. Percentage: According to the statistics
gathered by Sahil, 992 children were sexually abused in the first six months of
2008 and of them 69 percent (688) were girls. The number of boys subjected to
child abuse was 304. The girls were reportedly abused for a longer period of
time as compared to boys. The major categories of the crimes were abduction and
gang rape of girls and sodomy and gang sodomy with boys.

Acquaintances: Statistics also showed that 75 percent of such children were
targeted by acquaintance and 25 percent by strangers. The acquaintances included
neighbours, relatives, clerics, immediate family members, teachers, friends,
security guards, employers, brick kiln owners and shopkeepers. The strangers
included policemen, drivers and landlords. Shockingly, around six percent female
abettors were also involved in the crime.

Age group: The children, both girls and boys, between 11 to 15 years of age
group are more vulnerable to sexual abuse. Thirty percent boys and 22 percent
girl victims of abuse were from the same group.

Province wise cases: Sixty seven percent of such cases were reported in the
Punjab, the most populous province of the country, followed by Sindh 26 percent,
Islamabad 3.8 percent, the NWFP 1.9 percent, Balochistan 0.7 percent and Azad
Jammu and Kashmir cases 0.5 percent. Rural and urban area wise percentage stood
69 percent and 31 percent respectively. Mostly, markets, under-construction
houses, hospitals, madrasas, mosques and shrines happened to be the places of
abuse. In many reported cases, an abuser committed sexual crime as a form of
punishment or for the sake of revenge. Some girls were raped by those who were
interested in marrying them but their proposal was declined either by the girls
or their families. Surprisingly, unlike the past when the stigma attached with
sexual abuse prevented families from reporting such cases to police, parents of
81 percent victims of child abuse approached law-enforcers for relief. With some
cases settled out of court, police and courts processed majority of these cases.
Abusers got death, jail and fine depending on the nature of child abuse. Child
sexual abuse is not just an individual or family problem, said Shams. She said
the effects of sexual abuse on victims were devastating and life-long, and on
society pervasive.

She said Sahil had taken the initiative of collecting child abuse figures
reported in the press to educate parents on the vulnerability of their children
to abuse and ways and means for their protection.

She also urged people to help child abuse victims in overcoming the intense
trauma, which might be lifelong, instead of blaming them for the unfortunate
happening.


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