Attention victims/survivors of child sexual abuse!!

You are not alone. You have the right to seek help and support.

What is child sexual abuse?

Child Sexual Abuse is defined as any activity in which an adult or older child uses a younger child in a sexual way. This ranges from relatively milder forms such as touching/ fondling, showing one's own or looking at the child's private parts, too more severe forms such as rape.

What do I need to know about child sexual abuse?

• Child Sexual Abuse is extremely prevalent in Pakistan irrespective of age, sex, education, socio-economic class, intelligence, etc.
• Most abusers are known to the child and may even be trusted adults
• Child sexual abuse is NEVER the fault of the child!

What effect can child sexual abuse have on me?

It is important that you know that this can have several effects on your life even if it wasn't severe, happened just once or a few times. Some of these can be serious and long-term and could be affecting you even in late adulthood.

• Drop in academic/ performance
• Under-confidence, low self-esteem
• Phobias/fears, especially of certain people or places, anxiety
• Sleep disturbances, including nightmares
• Staying quiet a lot
• Aggression/passivity
• Delinquent behavior (stealing, excessive lying, running away, etc.)
• Self-mutilation & harm
• Suicidal ideation or attempts
• Various problems in relationships
• Difficulty in trusting people, in establishing close relationships, or over-trusting,
• People-pleasing behavior, constant need for approval/reassurance
• Dependency
• Sexual difficulties
• Depression, often chronic
• Sexual promiscuity or sexual withdrawal/fear
• Serious psychological disorders

If you are a survivor and are suffering from some/any of the effects mentioned above, Remember: HEALING IS POSSIBLE.

It is never too late to seek help

The abuse was not your fault

All your feelings are normal

You have the right to talk to someone (a family member, a friend, a counselor) and get support

You can contact AANGAN

You have the right to be aware & seek help!

Write to: Aangan, Rozan
House 258, Street 17, F-10/2, Islamabad
Tel: (+92 51) 221 5368 and (+92 51) 716 5365
From 9:00am - 5:00pm every day except Saturday and Sunday.
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it