ISLAMABAD, (TW NEWS) — Nearly one in 16 internet-using children aged 12 to 17 in Pakistan experienced at least one form of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse over a single year, equivalent to approximately 1.5 million children, according to new research by UNICEF Innocenti, ECPAT International and INTERPOL, funded by Safe Online.

The findings are contained in a report titled Disrupting Harm in Pakistan: Evidence on Technology-Facilitated Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. The study examines the scale and nature of online sexual exploitation and abuse through a nationally representative household survey of children aged 12–17 and their parents and caregivers, interviews with frontline and justice professionals, and an assessment of relevant laws and policies.

The research documents a range of forms of abuse, including unwanted sexual images or conversations, requests for images of private parts, the sharing of children’s images without permission, threats or blackmail involving sexual images or activity, and the use of artificial intelligence to create fake images or videos.

UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Pernille Ironside said children should be able to use the digital world safely and called for stronger systems to prevent abuse and hold perpetrators and digital platforms accountable.

The report also highlights how much of the abuse remains hidden. More than half of the children who experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse did not tell anyone about it, while none of the children surveyed reported their experiences through formal channels such as helplines, social workers or police.

Researchers said community stigma, victim-blaming and a lack of trust in law-enforcement institutions can discourage children and families from seeking help. The report stressed that responsibility for online safety should not fall on children alone.

The findings also challenge the perception that online abuse is primarily linked to unknown perpetrators. In 85 percent of incidents reported by children, the perpetrator was someone the child already knew.

Social media platforms accounted for 44 percent of reported incidents, making them the most commonly identified digital environment in the research. The report also points to emerging risks including sexual extortion, blackmail and AI-generated sexual abuse material.

Andrea Varrella, Head of Programme for Justice and Child Rights at ECPAT International, said girls and boys experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse at similar rates, while noting that their experiences and barriers to reporting can differ.

He particularly highlighted the impact of stigma and expectations surrounding masculinity on boys, who may be overlooked as victims or discouraged from reporting abuse.

INTERPOL’s Head of the Crimes Against Children Unit, Mark Beavan, said the findings demonstrate the need to strengthen prevention, reporting mechanisms, victim support and criminal justice responses.

He said the research could help law-enforcement agencies and other stakeholders address legal and institutional gaps and strengthen national responses to crimes against children.

The report calls for coordinated action by governments, law-enforcement agencies, justice and social-service providers, schools, families, communities and digital platforms.

It recommends stronger laws and regulations for the digital environment, greater accountability for online platforms, safety-by-design measures and child-sensitive justice systems. It also stresses the importance of safe, confidential and accessible channels through which children can seek help.

Chairperson of Pakistan’s National Commission on the Rights of the Child Ayesha Raza Farooq said Pakistan already has an important legal foundation for protecting children from online exploitation and abuse, but emphasized that stronger implementation and accountability are needed.

UNICEF said coordinated efforts across government institutions, law enforcement, justice and social services, communities, schools, families and technology platforms are essential to strengthening prevention and protection and creating safer environments for children both online and offline.