Ghulam Rasool (14), a resident of Sargodha, has not been able to sleep properly for the past three weeks. According to his father, he suffers from an unexplained fear and fever every night. The abuse he suffered and the brutality of being buried alive have left him reluctant to speak with others. The suspects responsible for sexually assaulting him and attempting to kill him have been arrested. However, his parents have no idea when the battle raging in his mind and heart will finally come to an end.

Such incidents are not new in Pakistan. After the rape and murder of Zainab in Kasur in 2018, the Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Act was enacted. But are the rising numbers of such cases a result of increased public awareness and reporting, or do they reflect the helplessness of state institutions?

According to psychologist Ayesha Ashraf, associated with an NGO Sanjh Preet, every child reacts differently to sexual abuse. Some become completely silent and socially withdrawn, while others display anger, irritability, and unusual behavior. Victims may suffer from low self-confidence, social isolation, loss of appetite, stomach problems, sleep disorders, shame, feelings of inferiority, and fear of the gender of the perpetrator. Many children even distance themselves from their parents or caregivers because they feel they failed to protect them. She explains that recovering from such psychological trauma is a lengthy process, and without timely psychological support, a safe environment for expression, and the presence of a trusted adult, the effects can persist for years or even a lifetime.

According to Sahil, three major factors contribute to the increase in child sexual abuse cases. First, many parents choose not to report incidents because of societal norms and the fear of bringing shame upon the family's honor. Even when parents gather the courage to report a case, they often face discouraging experiences at police stations, including delays in FIR registration, conventional investigative procedures, and pressure from the accused to settle the matter outside the legal system. Third, the conviction rate in child sexual abuse cases remains extremely low, encouraging offenders to continue committing such crimes. Many perpetrators are involved in multiple offenses before being........

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