A number of human rights organisations have expressed concerns over rising incidents of child rape at a protest rally on April 25 at the central Shaheed Minar. According to their statistics, in just the last three months, as many as 99 children became victims of rape all over the country.

Our children are increasingly becoming more vulnerable, less protected and becoming easy victims of this sickening wickedness. As activists at the rally pointed out, this increase in the number of child rapes is in part due to the culture of impunity.

This worrying trend also warrants busting myths around child abuse. Contrary to popular belief, most child sexual abusers hail from close circles of the victim: an overwhelming majority of children who are sexually abused know their abuser. As such, most cases of child sexual abuse are suppressed due to social taboo or fear of stigma.

Media coverage on this issue is dominated by incidents that are committed by strangers—which constitute rather a little portion of the entire phenomenon. The real situation is likely to be far worse.

The authorities have to ensure that no perpetrator of child sexual abuse escapes justice. Also, social awareness must be raised among parents and children to become aware of these worms that live near them.