Approximately 1.5 million internet-using children aged 12 to 17 in Pakistan experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse within a single year, according to the September 2026 *Disrupting Harm in Pakistan* study by UNICEF, ECPAT International, and INTERPOL. The research found that 85% of reported incidents involved perpetrators known to the victims, while social media accounted …
Approximately 1.5 million internet-using children aged 12 to 17 in Pakistan experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse within a single year, according to the September 2026 *Disrupting Harm in Pakistan* study by UNICEF, ECPAT International, and INTERPOL. The research found that 85% of reported incidents involved perpetrators known to the victims, while social media accounted for 44% of cases. More than half of affected children did not disclose their experiences, highlighting significant barriers to reporting and accessing support. Presenting her final report to the UN General Assembly, UN Special Representative Najat Maalla M’jid warned that artificial intelligence was intensifying risks of child sexual exploitation, deepfakes, and cyberbullying. The findings underscore critical gaps in Pakistan’s child protection framework and the urgent need for confidential reporting mechanisms, trauma-informed investigations, stronger legal safeguards, and accessible survivor support services.
