The Kishtwar case involving the death of a minor girl after an alleged sexual assault and a failed attempt to terminate her pregnancy has once again exposed a deeply troubling reality: how safe are children and women in our society?

This report looks beyond one horrific incident and examines the pattern of rape and child sexual-abuse cases reported across Kashmir in recent months, from Budgam and Bandipora to Kishtwar. It asks why such cases continue to emerge, why many survivors remain silent, and how fear of stigma, family honour and social judgement can prevent families from seeking timely help.

But the question is also about the perpetrators and the culture that enables them, sexual entitlement, abuse of power, victim-blaming and the tendency to protect a family’s “reputation” rather than a child’s safety.

The report also examines the role of schools, teachers, parents, healthcare institutions and child-protection mechanisms. When a child is vulnerable, who is responsible for noticing the warning signs? And what happens when the very institutions meant to protect children fail them?

Kishtwar is not just a story about one alleged crime. It is a story about silence, power, social stigma and a system that must answer difficult questions.