One in eight children in south Asia has faced sexual assault, says new study

One successful 8 children successful southbound Asia person experienced rape oregon intersexual battle during childhood, a survey conducted by Childlight – Global Child Safety Institute, University of Edinburgh, has revealed. The survey titled Index connected Global Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse 2025 was released astatine the c0c0n 2025, an yearly cybersecurity league organised by the Kerala Police, present connected Friday.

According to the data, 14.5% of women and 11.5% of men successful the portion recalled the harrowing experiences. The information is typical from India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, according to Childlight. “Even if we look astatine that based connected the colonisation size, that information accounts for 54 cardinal children successful those 3 countries. That’s rather significant,” Deborah Fry, Global Director of Data, Professor of International Child Protection Research astatine Childlight told The Hindu.

The survey says India, Pakistan and Bangladesh unsocial received reports of astir 4.5 cardinal kid intersexual maltreatment materials (CSAM) successful 2024. CSAM refers to immoderate ocular depiction of the intersexual maltreatment oregon exploitation of a minor, including computer-generated materials. Alarmingly, a staggering 1,325% emergence successful harmful AI-generated online maltreatment materials person been recorded globally during 2023-24 compared to the erstwhile year, the survey says.

Largest successful Maldives

In the southbound Asia scenario, Maldives has the largest CSAM complaint successful the portion with 94 reports per 10,000 people. India has the highest measurement of CSAM but the lowest CSAM complaint (15.5%) successful the portion considering the ample colonisation size, the survey notes.

Childlight has warned of a imaginable summation successful AI-generated CSAM successful the coming years. “India volition beryllium experiencing summation successful AI-generated CSAM and it is important to marque future-proof authorities to woody with these caller and emerging types of harms. That is simply a cardinal proposal successful the report,” said Ms. Fry.

The survey has besides called for continued efforts to observe and region CSAM portion prioritising unfortunate recognition and safeguarding enactment to the victims.