Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faces Escalating Child Protection Crisis Amid Systemic Failures
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is grappling with what experts are calling a “child protection emergency,” as the province sees a sharp rise in abuse cases against minors. According to Dawn News, a recent report by the KP Child Protection and Welfare Commission (KPCPWC) has documented 402 child rights violations in just six months—already exceeding the 392 cases reported in all of 2024.
The report reveals children in KP have been subjected to 33 different forms of abuse, including sexual violence, forced begging, child labour, disappearances, and even murder. Of the reported cases, 286 involved boys and 116 girls.
Among the most alarming findings were 40 cases each of missing children and sexual abuse, 26 runaways, 17 cases of child labour, 14 incidents of corporal punishment, seven child murders, and two cases involving child pornography.
“This is undeniably a child protection emergency,” said Nadia Khan of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC). She pointed out that despite KP having over four million children, there is only one fully functional child protection unit in Peshawar. “What we need are sustainable, child-focused policies that provide real safeguards,” she told Dawn News.
Currently, only 19 of KP’s 36 districts have operational child protection units, leaving large areas vulnerable. Maham Afridi from the NCRC emphasized that the issue goes beyond government responsibility. “Communities, religious leaders, families, and local influencers must actively engage in raising awareness,” she said.
Cultural stigma remains a major barrier. “Child abuse is wrongly considered a matter of family honour,” said activist Rakhshanda Sajid. “Victims are silenced by shame and fear, allowing abusers to remain protected by social norms.”
In response, KP’s Minister for Social Welfare, Qasim Ali Shah, announced upcoming legislation aimed at improving the handling of street children. He also pledged to make KP “beggar-free” and said a dedicated helpline and a professional development centre have been launched.
However, child rights activist Imran Takkar criticized the government’s lack of urgency, noting that despite the passage of the KP Child Protection and Welfare Act in 2010, most districts still lack designated child courts or leadership to enforce the law.
“Without genuine political will and sufficient funding, these laws are little more than symbolic,” Takkar told Dawn News.
