One in eight children has experienced sexual abuse in South Asia, new survey report says
Summary
A new report reveals that one in eight children in South Asia has experienced sexual abuse before 18, highlighting significant gaps in protection and a surge in technology-facilitated exploitation, including AI-generated abuse material.
Key Points
- One in eight children in South Asia experiences sexual assault before the age of 18, affecting an estimated 54 million across India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
- There has been a 1,325 percent increase in AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) over the past year, including deepfake content.
- India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan account for the vast majority of CSAM reports in South Asia, with the Maldives having the highest per capita rate.
- Technology-facilitated abuse is growing, with encrypted services complicating detection, urging governments to balance privacy and child protection through regulatory reforms.
