Cruel Number 2011
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Cruel Numbers 2011 A compilation of statistics on child sexual abuse of reported cases in Pakistan 2011 2011 Aqdas Fatima Saad Ahmed Khan Aqdas Fatima Saad Ahmed Khan Regional Office Regional Office Regional Office Regional Office Farah Naz Sahil Offices Sahil Head Office Sahil Regional Office, Jaffarabad Sahil Regional Office, Sukkur No 13, First Floor, Al Babar Center Khosa Mohalla, Near Civil Hospital, House # B 62, Street # 2 F-8 Markaz, Islamabad, Pakistan Dera Allah Yar Sindhi Muslim Housing Society Phone # (92 51)2260636, 2856950 Jaffarabad Airport Road, Sukkur Fax # (92 51)2254678 Phone # 0838-510912 Phone # (92-71) 5633615 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Sahil Regional Office, Abbotabad Sahil Regional Office, Lahore Makhdoom Colony, Nari road House # 686-C, Faisal Town, Lahore Mandian, Purana Ayub Medical College, Abbotabad Phone: 92-42-35165357 Phone # (92-992) 383880 [email protected] [email protected] T 2011 Contents Foreword 01 Report Highlights 02 Definition of Child Sexual Abuse 03 ?Who are victims of CSA 04 ?Who are perpetrators of CSA 04 ?What are the effects of CSA 04 Objectives of the Report 05 Methodology for data collection 05 Limitations of the Report 06 Presentation of the Statistical data 07 Newspaper Reported cases 2011 07 Presentation of statistical data 07 ?The Gender Divide 08 ?Crime Categories 09 ?Abuser's Categories 11 ?Age Of Victims 13 ?Places Of Abuse 15 ?Time Period Of Abuse 17 ?Geographical Area Of Crime 17 ?District wise distribution 19 ?Reporting Issues 20 ?Case Registration With Police 21 Court Conviction of CSA Cases by Sahil 23 Sahil's Juvenile Data 23 Abduction Cases 2011 24 ?What is Child Abduction? 24 ?Presentation of statistical data 24 ?Gender Divide 24 ?Age of Abducted Children 25 ?Places of Abduction 26 ?Abuser category 26 ?District wise divide for Abducted Children 28 FIA's Analysis 29 Existing Support Network 30 Pakistan Sweet Homes 31 Child Protection Homes 33 What parents should know 34 What to do when you think a child has been a victim of sexual abuse 34 Annexure: List of Newspapers 36 2011 Foreword Child sexual abuse is a global issue which expands its vicious impression not only on an individual or a family but on the whole society. Children who survive sexual abuse grow up more likely to negatively impact our society in many ways, not just by handing down the legacy of abuse to their own children but also by suffering tremendous emotional changes. The effects of sexual abuse on victims are devastating and life- long and its effects on our society are pervasive. Sahil was established in 1996 as an organization in Pakistan that works on child protection with special focus on issue of child sexual abuse and exploitation. Sahil takes advocacy and awareness rising as the main tool of implementing its programs. To fight against the phenomenon of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Sahil is running the Social, Legal, Educational and Mass Media Awareness Program. Sahil, a pioneer in the collection of data on child sexual abuse throughout the country initiated compiling the cases of child sexual abuse reported in the newspaper into a report called Cruel Numbers which is now in its 11th year. The effects of child sexual abuse are wide ranging, and vary from survivor to survivor depending on a number of different factors such as the age of the victim, the duration of the abuse, the number of perpetrators, the nature of the relationship with the perpetrator, and the severity of the assault. The aim of collecting and publishing this data is to present an overview of the situation of violence on children in the form of child sexual abuse and to develop a protective environment for children free from all forms of violence especially child sexual abuse. We hope that these statistics provided by Sahil will be beneficial for all stake holders, and we expect this report is of interest to a wide range of people from all spheres of life and especially for those who are concerned with children's issues. This report highlights the severity of the situation and to make the authorized body to realize the urgency of immediate concerted efforts at all levels to combat this abysmal form of violence on our children. 2011 1 Report Highlights This year cruel numbers 2011 has been compiled from 65 daily National, regional and local newspapers. The fight against child sexual abuse is not going to be a smooth one. As the country continues to grapple with the crime, the total number of sexual abuse cases in 2011, stand at a staggering 2,303. This figure shows an increase of 2.26% from previous year figures (2,252). Abduction cases have shown a phenomenal increase from 850 to 1,112. On average 3 children are being abducted everyday. The three major crime categories show that there were 505 cases of rape/sodomy, 279 cases of gang rape/sodomy and 141 cases of attempted rape/sodomy Gender-wise distribution follows trends of the previous years where more girls became victims of sexual abuse. The data shows that 72 per cent girls and 28 per cent boys were sexually abused. Furthermore, a total of 4,846 attackers abused 2,303 children. The largest group identified was that of acquaintances, the second largest group being strangers followed by perpetrators within the family. Like previous years, the highest percentage of vulnerable age group among girls is 6- 18 years. Among the boys, the age bracket of 6-15 years was the most vulnerable. The data shows sexual abuse can occur anywhere, at any time, children are vulnerable anywhere. Statistics gathered by Sahil show 88% of cases of sexual assault took place within four walls where as 12% cases took place in an open area. The Urban–Rural divide shows that almost 60% cases were reported from rural areas where as 40% of cases were reported from the urban areas Province – wise division shows that 79% cases of abuse were reported from Punjab, followed by 10% cases reported from Sindh, then 4% by KPK and 6% from Baluchistan and Federal Capital Islamabad. Only 1% cases was reported from Azad Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. Of all the cases 74% were registered with police, 24 % were unregistered and status of almost 2% cases remained unknown. The identification of name was given of 56% victims, whereas the identity of 37% of the victims was not revealed. Names and pictures of 6% victims were published and picture of 1% victims were published. 2011 2 What Is Child Sexual Abuse? “Child sexual abuse (CSA) occurs when an adult or adolescent uses a child for sexual purposes. It involves exposing a child to any sexual activity or behavior. Sexual abuse is inherently emotionally abusive and is often accompanied by other forms of maltreatment. It is a betrayal of trust and an abuse of power over the child.” At the extreme end of the spectrum, sexual abuse includes sexual intercourse or its deviations. Yet all offences that involve sexually touching a child, as well as non- touching offenses and sexual exploitation, are just as harmful and devastating to a child's well-being and healthy development. Touching sexual offenses include: ?Fondling; ?Making a child touch an adult's sexual organs ?Intercourse: anal or vagina penetration Non-touching sexual offenses include: ?Engaging in indecent exposure or exhibitionism; ?Exposing children to pornographic material; ?Deliberately exposing a child to the act of sexual intercourse; and ?Masturbating in front of a child. ?Verbal abuse. Sexual exploitation can include: ?Engaging a child or soliciting a child for the purposes of prostitution; and ?Using a child to film, photograph or model pornography. 2011 3 Sexual abuse of children and youth is shrouded in secrecy, guilt and fear. Offenders use intimidation and threats to keep the child from telling, but the most observed reason children and youth don't reveal is that they are afraid they won't be believed. Who Are the Victims of Child Sexual Abuse? Children and adolescents, regardless of their race, culture, or economic status, appear to be at approximately equal risk for sexual victimization. Statistics show that girls are sexually abused more often than boys are. However, boys and, later, men's, tendency not to report their victimization may affect these statistics. Some men even feel societal pressure to be conceited of early sexual activity (no matter how unwanted it may have been at the time). It is telling, however, to note that men who have been abused are more commonly seen in the criminal justice system than in clinical mental health settings. Who are the perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse? Studies on who commits child sexual abuse vary in their findings, but the most common finding is that the majority of sexual offenders are family members or otherwise known to the child. Sexual abuse by strangers is not nearly as common as sexual abuse by family members. Research further shows that men perpetrate most instances of sexual abuse, but there are cases in which women are the offenders. Despite a common myth, homosexual men are not more likely to sexually abuse children than heterosexual men are. What Are the Effects of Child Sexual Abuse? The ailing effects of child sexual abuse are wide ranging. There is no one set of symptoms or outcomes that victims experience. Some children may show little or no psychological distress from the abuse, but these children may be either afraid to express their true emotions or may deny their feelings as a coping mechanism. They may experience no harm in the short run, but can suffer serious problems later in life.