The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has warned that online sexual abuse of children remains a major child protection concern in the country, with widespread underreporting, poor coordination among institutions and inadequate safeguards allowing many cases to go undetected.
In a report released on Tuesday, the rights organisation urged authorities to recognise online child sexual exploitation not simply as a cybercrime issue but as a serious violation of children’s fundamental rights, dignity and personal safety.
The commission highlighted weaknesses in existing reporting and protection mechanisms, warning that victims often face significant barriers to seeking assistance and obtaining justice.
The report referred to a disturbing case reported in Muzaffargarh in 2025, where at least 50 children, including some aged six or younger, were allegedly subjected to sexual exploitation through an international network.
HRCP also cited data from the US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, which recorded more than two million reports linked to suspected child sexual abuse material in Pakistan in 2021.
The commission clarified that these figures represented reports of suspected online activity rather than the number of individual children affected, meaning they should not be interpreted as a direct count of victims.
The findings underscored the difficulties involved in determining the full extent of online child sexual exploitation, particularly when incidents are not reported to the authorities or are inadequately investigated.
HRCP called for stronger coordination among child protection agencies, police, cybercrime investigators, prosecutors and the judiciary to ensure that complaints are investigated effectively and perpetrators are held accountable.
The organisation also emphasised that criminal investigations alone were insufficient to address the harm experienced by affected children.
It urged authorities to ensure that survivors have access to legal assistance, psychological support and rehabilitation services, allowing them to recover from abuse and receive appropriate protection.
The commission’s recommendations highlight the need for a coordinated, child-centred response that prioritises prevention, effective investigation and the long-term welfare of survivors.