Who Will Protect Karachi’s Children?

By Sadaf Hashmi

Every few months, Karachi wakes up to the same heartbreaking news: another child has been sexually abused.

For a few days, there is outrage. Hashtags trend, news channels run special segments, and officials promise action. Then the story fades. Life moves on — until it happens again.

This is not simply a crime problem. It is a failure to protect children, and it is happening more often than many people are willing to admit.

Official figures are deeply troubling, but child rights groups say the real number is likely much higher. Many cases never reach the authorities. Families remain silent because of shame, fear of gossip, distrust of the police, or anxiety about a legal process that can take years.

That silence does not protect children. It protects those who abuse them.

The Damage Runs Deep

Child sexual abuse can leave lasting emotional and psychological scars. Research by organisations including the WHO and UNICEF has linked childhood abuse with a higher risk of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal thoughts later in life.

Some survivors may turn to self-harm or substance abuse. Others struggle to trust people, perform well at school or build healthy relationships as adults.

Children are still developing their understanding of the world. They are learning whom they can trust, whether they are safe and how they value themselves.

When that sense of safety is shattered, particularly by someone the child knows and trusts, the consequences can last for years.

Survivors may also experience guilt and shame. But responsibility never lies with the child.

Early support can make a significant difference. Yet access to mental health services for abuse survivors remains limited in Pakistan. Social stigma surrounding both sexual abuse and therapy can also prevent families from seeking help.

As a result, many children are left to cope with trauma on their own.

Why Is This Happening?

There is no single explanation for child sexual abuse.

Weak child protection systems, limited public awareness, inadequate supervision, poverty and the growing threat of online grooming can all increase risks. In rapidly growing cities, crowded communities can also make it harder for people to recognise when a child may be in danger.

There is another uncomfortable reality that society must confront: the abuser is often not a stranger.

The perpetrator may be a relative, neighbour, teacher or another adult already known to the child.

That is why traditional “stranger danger” warnings are not enough.

Children need age-appropriate education about personal boundaries, safe and unsafe touch, and their right to say no. Most importantly, they need to know that they can tell a trusted adult when something feels wrong.

What Needs to Change?

Parents need to speak openly with their children. Conversations about safety should not be treated as shameful or frightening subjects. Silence at home can create the very environment predators exploit.

Schools need meaningful child protection policies. These should include appropriate staff screening, clear reporting mechanisms and access to counselling for children who need support.

Police and courts must handle abuse cases more quickly and sensitively. Lengthy investigations and repeated questioning can place additional emotional pressure on already traumatised children.

The media also has a responsibility. Journalists should protect a child’s identity and dignity rather than pursue dramatic headlines that could retraumatise survivors or compromise legal proceedings.

A Shared Responsibility

Protecting children cannot be left to the government alone.

Parents, teachers, doctors, religious leaders, community members, journalists and law-enforcement agencies all have a role to play.

The goal should be to create a society where survivors receive support rather than shame, and where children know that adults will listen when they speak.

A society should not be judged only by how quickly its economy grows or how advanced its technology becomes. It should also be judged by how effectively it protects its most vulnerable members.

Karachi’s children deserve more than sympathy after a tragedy. They deserve safe homes, safe schools and a system that stands behind them when they need it most.

The real question is not whether we know this crisis exists.

It is whether we are finally willing to do something about it.