At least 1.5m child surfers faced abuse in a single year: UNICEF

ISLAMABAD: At least 1. 5 million internet-using Pakistani children aged 12-17 years, or 6. 25 percent, have faced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in a single year, UNICEF said. The research report titled “Disrupting Harm in Pakistan: Evidence on Technology-Facilitated Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse” draws on a nationally representative household survey of children aged 12-17 and their parents and caregivers, interviews with frontline and justice professionals, and an analysis of laws and policies to examine the scale and nature of technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse in Pakistan. The new research released here on Friday from UNICEF Office of Strategy and Evidence – Innocenti, ECPAT International, and INTERPOL, funded by Safe Online, provides valuable insight into children’s experiences, the circumstances in which abuse can occur, and the barriers they may face in accessing help and protection. The forms of abuse documented include unwanted sexual images or conversations, requests to share images of private parts, the sharing of children’s images without their permission, threats or blackmail involving such images or sexual activity, and the use of artificial intelligence to create fake images or videos. UNICEF calls for coordinated action across government, law enforcement, justice and social services, as well as communities, schools, families and digital platforms, to strengthen prevention, protection and response and create safer environments for children, online and in-person. “The digital world should be a safe space for children. We must shift from asking children simply to avoid risks to building stronger systems that prevent abuse and hold perpetrators and digital platforms accountable. Every child has the right to learn, connect and explore the digital world safely and with confidence, knowing that the systems around them are working to protect them from exploitation and abuse, ” said UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, Pernille Ironside. Marija Manojlovic, Executive Director (ED), Safe Online, said that in Pakistan, Disrupting Harm brings important evidence on the realities children face online and the gaps that must be addressed to keep them safe. Through Safe Online’sUSD15 million investment across 25 countries, the agency is committed to turning evidence into meaningful action to address these critical challenges. He said that Safe Online commends the government of Pakistan, ECPAT, INTERPOL, UNICEF and local partners for their leadership. The report highlights the extent to which technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse remains hidden in Pakistan. More than half of children subjected to technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse did not tell anyone, while none of the children surveyed reported to formal avenues, including helplines, social workers and police. Community stigma, victim-blaming, and a lack of trust in police keep children and their families silent. Abuse is never a child’s fault. This highlights the need for safe, confidential, and accessible ways for children to seek help and support. “The survey shows girls and boys in Pakistan have been subjected to technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse at similar rates, but their experiences can differ significantly. For boys, stigma and expectations around masculinity can mean they are overlooked as victims and discouraged from speaking about what happened. Recognising and responding to boys’ unique experiences must be part of effective child protection, ” said Andrea Varrella, Head of Programme: Justice and Child Rights, ECPAT International. In 85 percent of incidents cited by children in the report, the perpetrator was someone the child already knew, challenging the perception of online abuse as primarily a “stranger danger” risk. Social media platforms accounted for 44 per cent of reported instances of abuse, making it the most commonly reported digital environment in the research. The report also identifies evolving risks, including sexual extortion, blackmail, and AI-generated sexual abuse material. Mark Beavan, Head of INTERPOL Crimes Against Children Unit, commenting on the report, said that the findings from Disrupting Harm Pakistan highlight the urgent need to strengthen protection for children facing technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse. By identifying legal and institutional gaps alongside the lived experiences of children and survivors, the research provides actionable recommendations to improve prevention, reporting, victim support, and criminal justice responses, Beavan said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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