Nearly 1.5 million children in Pakistan who use the internet have experienced at least one form of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse within a year, according to a study published by UNICEF, ECPAT International and INTERPOL in September 2026.
The findings highlight growing concerns over online safety as rapid advances in digital technology and artificial intelligence create new threats to children worldwide.
Presenting her final report to the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Violence Against Children, called on governments to strengthen protections for children facing multiple and overlapping crises.
She told journalists at UN Headquarters in New York that nearly 45 million children had been displaced by conflict, natural disasters and the climate crisis.
M’jid also warned that artificial intelligence was creating new opportunities for child sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, the creation of deepfake material and the recruitment of children into criminal activities.
Her presentation coincided with the 20th anniversary of the first UN global study on violence against children. Despite progress in child protection, she said the world continued to face complex challenges following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The study, titled Disrupting Harm in Pakistan, found that nearly one in 16 internet-using children aged 12 to 17 had experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a single year.
The reported forms of abuse included unwanted sexual images or conversations, demands for intimate photographs, the non-consensual sharing of children’s images, and sexual threats or blackmail.
The findings challenge the perception that online abuse is primarily committed by strangers. According to the study, 85 per cent of the reported incidents involved perpetrators known to the children.
Social media was identified as the most commonly reported digital setting, accounting for 44 per cent of reported cases.
Fear, stigma and concerns about family reactions often prevent children from disclosing abuse or seeking assistance. Victims may worry about being blamed, humiliated or subjected to restrictions at home.
Boys may also be overlooked because of social expectations surrounding masculinity and the reluctance to discuss sexual abuse.
UNICEF said more than half of the children who experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse did not tell anyone about their experiences. None of the children surveyed reported the incidents through formal channels, including helplines, social workers or the police.
The findings underscore the need for confidential, accessible and child-friendly reporting mechanisms that allow victims to seek help without fear of blame or punishment.
Online abuse forms part of a broader child-protection crisis shaped by poverty, displacement and disrupted access to essential services.
M’jid warned that poverty, food insecurity and rising prices were increasing children’s vulnerability worldwide. Economic hardship can expose children to exploitation, while conflict and natural disasters can interrupt education and weaken family support systems.
Climate-related emergencies are adding to these pressures across South Asia. UNICEF estimates that weather-related disasters displaced 15.6 million children in the region between 2016 and 2022.
In Bangladesh, climate-related events disrupted schooling for 35 million children in 2024.
Although these figures relate to different aspects of child vulnerability and do not establish a direct link between displacement and online sexual abuse, they highlight the importance of maintaining child-protection services during emergencies and ensuring that vulnerable families can access assistance.
For Pakistan, the challenge is to address the risks associated with digital technologies alongside the social and economic conditions that leave children without adequate protection.
The study points to weaknesses in systems designed to prevent online abuse, investigate allegations and support victims. It calls attention to the need for safe reporting mechanisms, properly trained investigators and services that protect children from further humiliation or trauma.
The research also identifies gaps in Pakistan’s legal framework. Existing legislation does not require child forensic interviews to be systematically conducted by specially trained professionals, potentially increasing the risk of secondary victimisation during investigations.
Strengthening legal safeguards, improving investigative procedures and expanding access to confidential support services are essential steps towards protecting children from online exploitation and abuse.
