2,846 child abuse cases reported in 2019

LAHORE: A total 2,846 child abuse cases were reported in 2019 from all four provinces including Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB), according to an NGO, which launched its ‘Cruel Numbers’ report.

‘Cruel Numbers 2019’ is a data on child abuse, abduction, missing children and child marriage cases reported in 84 newspapers during 2019. The major crime categories of the reported cases are 778 abductions, 405 missing children, 348 sodomy cases, 279 rape cases, 210 attempted rapes, 205 gang abuse cases, and 115 gang-rape. A total of 104 cases of child marriages were recorded by Sahil in 2019. The data reveals that in one day, more than 8 children are abused. The gender divide shows that out of the total 2,846 cases of child abuse, 54pc of victims were girls and 46pc were boys. Age-wise information shows that children are most vulnerable to abuse in the age group 6-15 years. The research shows that children as young as 0-5 years are also abused.

A total of 35 incest cases were reported out of which 30 were girls and 5 boys. A total number of 3,722 abusers are identified, and 2,222 were the acquaintances of the victims. Out of the total number of 2,846 cases, 64pc (1816) were reported from rural areas and 36pc (1,030) cases were reported from urban areas.

Scattered rain likely

By our correspondent

LAHORE: Met officials said that a continental air was prevailing over the most parts of the country. A shallow westerly wave is likely to enter on Wednesday evening. They predicted that mainly hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country. However, rain wind-thunderstorm is expected in northeast Balochistan, upper Sindh, south Punjab, Kashmir and adjoining areas. Rainfall was recorded in a number of cities, including Dir, 10mm, Parachinar, 8, Saidasharif, 2, Multan, 15, Murree, 12, Chakwal, 9, Hafizabad, 3, Attock, Kotaddu, 1 and Barkhan, 2mm. Tuesday’s highest temperature was recorded at Chhor where the mercury reached 43°C.