Kathmandu, Oct. 15 -- A new report has revealed that one in every eight children in South Asia has experienced sexual assault before turning 18.

The findings come from 'Into the Light Index on Global Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse' (ITL Index 2025), which examined both in-person and abuse across Western Europe and South Asia, which were the highest affected regions as per its 2024 report.

The report, released by Childlight, a global child safety data institute, shows a grim picture of both in-person and technology-facilitated sexual exploitation of children in the region. It also highlights systemic failures in protection, data collection, and response.

According to the research, roughly one in eight children in the region experie...