Islamabad – A “Year of Children,” marked by meetings, celebrations, public events and prayer initiatives dedicated to protecting children, promoting their well-being and placing them at the centre of social and pastoral attention in a context where children are exploited, abused and violated. This is how Archbishop Joseph Arshad, Bishop of the Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, explained to Fides the aims and motivations behind the special year being observed by the Catholic community in northern Pakistan.
“Child protection is crucial,” he said, expressing “deep concern over the growing number of child abuse cases in society.”
“The issue of child sexual abuse in Pakistan remains widespread and requires urgent attention. In 2025,” he noted, citing figures from ‘Cruel Numbers,’ the report published by the Pakistani NGO ‘Sahil,’ which monitors child abuse nationwide on a daily basis, “there was an alarming 8 percent increase in reported cases, with 3,630 confirmed cases of violence, an average of more than nine children abused every day.”
According to the report, the most common crimes were abduction and rape. Girls accounted for 53 percent of the victims, while children between the ages of 11 and 15 are the most vulnerable.
Strongly condemning the abuse of children reported across different parts of Pakistan, “as a Catholic community, we express our profound sorrow, dismay and concern, and we acknowledge the growing fear among parents, children and communities,” Arshad said.
Recalling the recent tragic case of seven-year-old Muntaha Zahra, a Muslim girl from Sargodha who was abducted last June and murdered after suffering horrific abuse and torture—a case that deeply shocked society—Archbishop Arshad said that such “brutality against an innocent child is a crime that wounds the conscience of the entire nation.” He also referred to similar cases reported in Karachi, Swat and other parts of the country.
“Crimes against children are among the most shameful and intolerable violations of human dignity. No society can call itself just, peaceful or civilized as long as its children live under threat, fear and insecurity. Children are a sacred gift from God and must be protected with the highest level of moral, social, legal and institutional responsibility,” he said.
The Archbishop urges the Government of Pakistan, law enforcement agencies, child protection departments and all relevant institutions “to take immediate, firm, transparent and exemplary measures against those responsible for such crimes.” He called for “perpetrators of child abuse to be brought to justice without delay and for silence, negligence and the failure to enforce the law to be rejected.”
It is in this context that the Catholic community of Islamabad-Rawalpindi has dedicated 2026 to children by celebrating the “Year of Children.” The initiative reflects “the Church’s solemn commitment to promoting the dignity, protection, education, formation and holistic well-being of children.” Through its parishes, schools and associations, the diocesan community “will continue to raise awareness and encourage families, schools, parishes and communities to work together for the safety and development of every child.”
Archbishop Arshad also appealed to parents, teachers, religious leaders, the media, civil society and all citizens to “acknowledge their responsibility in protecting children.” He urged parents “to remain vigilant, build relationships of trust with their children, listen carefully and educate them about personal safety.”
“Society must reject silence, fear, stigma and indifference, and must report every suspected case of abuse to the competent authorities,” he added.
“People of goodwill, regardless of their religion,” he concluded, “are called to become ambassadors of peace, protection and hope for Pakistan. Child safety is not just a family matter, but a national moral responsibility.”
“Our beloved children deserve a society where they can live without fear, grow with dignity and look to the future with hope. We must all work together and contribute to the well-being of our children.”
Child abuse in Pakistan remains a chronic and growing social emergency, compounded by cultural taboos, poverty and weaknesses in the justice system.
United Nations experts and local NGOs agree that the phenomenon is significantly underestimated, as most cases of abuse within families and communities go unreported because of fear of social stigma or intimidation.
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