Why can’t the state keep girls safe?

Why are so many girl children in our country still subjected to horrific violence? Words fail us when we see the sheer amount of abuse they have to endure even today. According to a report by Jugantor, at least 5,264 girl children died after being subjected to various sorts of violence over the last 10 years. The harrowing data, based on Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) reports from 2016 to 2025, shows that at least 2,377 of the murdered children were between 13 and 18 years of age. These are children who were robbed of the chance to grow up and have a life of their own. Why did the state, whose foremost responsibility is to protect citizens, continue to fail these young lives before they even got the chance to begin meaningfully?

The state’s failure in this regard is even more evident when the fact that only 2,220 cases were filed in connection with the deaths—less than half of the total number of deaths reported—is considered. In the first eight months of this year, at least 254 girl children died after being subjected to various forms of violence, but only 81 cases were filed in connection with these incidents, pointing to barriers to securing justice. Many families are deterred from seeking justice due to police negligence, fear of political retribution, financial constraints, and social stigma. Even when justice is sought, weak investigation, prolonged proceedings, and limitations in forensic investigations often allow perpetrators to evade accountability.

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The broader scale of violence against women and children in the country is equally alarming. In the first nine months of this year, 16,715 cases involving violence against women and children were filed nationwide. This covers a wider range of offences than ASK’s data on deaths of girls. Beyond these reported cases of violence, deeply entrenched gender norms continue to threaten girls’ safety, autonomy, and future prospects in our country. At least 51 percent of women aged 20 to 24 years old were married before turning 18 in 2022. Although the figure is down from 73 percent in 1993-94, the decline is far slower than in neighbouring countries.

The government must do more to address these vulnerabilities. This can start with ensuring that girls can complete their education and that child marriage laws are properly enforced. Our streets must be safer for our daughters. The criminal justice system must be strengthened to ensure that survivors have access to safe reporting mechanisms, legal aid, shelters, and psychosocial support. Perpetrators must not be allowed to go scot-free due to their political affiliation. And the authorities must conduct prompt and impartial investigations, while the justice system must ensure timely trials and effective witness protection.