THATTA: Speakers at a seminar on ‘Child sexual abuse — duties, responsibilities of parents and civil society’ said that child abuse incidents had risen from 12 to 15 children per day across the country; among them 56 per cent were girls and 44pc boys, and majority of them were molested by relatives, neighbours and acquaintances.

Sujawal SSP Suhaee Aziz Talpur and social activist Hameed Alwani said at the seminar organised by Aga Khan Council for Thatta and Shahbandar on Wednesday that awareness should be created in population about social evils to ensure a better future for children.

Ms Talpur contended that unfortunately in lower Sindh because of poverty and lack of awareness the graph of primary education was the lowest. Police were available to eradicate social evils if people came forward and joined hands with law enforcers, she said.

Mr Alwani told the audience that child abuse incidents had risen from 12 to 15 children per day across the country.

He disclosed that 3,445 cases had occurred in 2017 which increased by 11pc; figures reached 3,834 in 2018. In 2019, it increased further, he said, adding that more abuse cases went unreported.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2020