Child abuse and gender-based violence (GBV) cases increased sharply across Pakistan in 2025, according to a report by Sahil, which monitors violence against children and women.
The organisation recorded 3,630 child abuse cases nationwide, an 8% rise compared with 2024. On average, more than nine children were abused every day last year. The data was compiled from 81 newspapers covering all four provinces, Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Girls accounted for 1,924 cases, or 53% of victims, while boys made up 1,625 cases. Another 116 cases involved newborn babies. Children aged 11 to 15 were the most vulnerable, with boys slightly more affected than girls.
Abduction was the most frequently reported category with 1,107 cases. It was followed by 596 cases of sodomy and 522 cases of rape. Other incidents included 365 missing children, 195 attempted rapes, 141 attempted sodomy, 130 gang sodomy cases, 108 gang rapes, 58 murders after sexual abuse, and 53 cases of child marriage.
Acquaintances were most commonly involved in child sexual abuse cases. Punjab accounted for 73% of child abuse reports, Sindh 21%, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 4%, and the remaining 2% came from Balochistan, federal territories, AJK, and Gilgit-Baltistan. The report noted that 82% of cases were registered with police, showing an active response from authorities.
The report also highlighted a sharp rise in violence against women. A total of 7,071 GBV cases were reported nationwide, marking a 34% increase from the previous year. These included murder, suicide, abduction, rape, torture, honour killings, harassment, injury, acid attacks, and cases involving transgender individuals.
Murder was the largest category, with 1,546 cases, followed by 1,345 abductions and 1,169 torture cases. There were 877 rapes, 680 suicides, 449 injuries, 316 harassment cases, 284 honour killings, and 41 acid attacks. Acquaintances were responsible for 32% of GBV cases, strangers for 18%, and husbands for 12%. In 20% of cases, the identity of the abuser was not disclosed.
Punjab reported the highest number of GBV cases at 78%, followed by Sindh at 14%, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at 6%, and 2% from Balochistan, federal territories, AJK, and Gilgit-Baltistan combined.
