"AVERAGE AGE OF THE RAPE VICTIM IS NINE YEARS", NEW REPORT REVEALS SHARP RISE IN NUMBER OF CHILD RAPES IN PAKISTAN

The sexual assault of five-year-old “S” who was then dumped outside a Lahore hospital jolted the nation. The story made headlines for several days. In her, each saw their own child. Much was written and promised, but some seven months later the rapists remain at large and the government continues to chase shadows

In this particular case, there were some lessons to be learnt. The most shocking is that the rape of minors is a growing trend in the country. “The average age of the rape victim in Karachi, according to data collected, is now nine years,” discloses Shiraz Ahmed, who works for the Karachi-based NGO, War Against Rape (WAR). “Child-rape is definitely on the rise. Many more cases are now being reported, but we can safely estimate that these are only 5 per cent of the actual number of cases.”



Ahmed says that influential perpetrators or their allies intimidate or bribe victims and their families into silence. “And society encourages the issue to be brushed under the carpet,” he adds.



In Punjab alone, there were 2,576 cases reported, according to a report of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) released recently.



The father of “S” continues to fight for justice. “Due to weak laws and punishment, these beasts continue to destroy the lives of women. I demand action that would set an example,” says Shafqat Mahmud. So far Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s government has been helpless. Possibly this inaction encourages rapists.



Alarm: Rapid rise in child-rape



• 2,788 child sexual abuse cases were reported in 2012, as compared to 2,303 in 2011.



• On an average, eight children a day were abused during 2012.



• 71 per cent of minors who suffered abuse were girls.



• The age group most vulnerable to sexual abuse among girls and boys was 11 to 15 years.



• Some 5,689 abusers were involved in nearly 3,000 abuse cases, out of which 47 per cent were acquaintances



• 1,214 cases took place either at the acquaintances’ or the victims’ houses, according to the report.


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