Public discussion of these countries is unwelcome in Pakistan, as it is in some other Asian and Muslim countries. The schools in Pakistan do not provide formal sex education. In addition, sparse documentation exists in historical sources and the literature of anthropology, law, pediatrics, psychology, and psychiatry. Moreover, cultural constructions of abuse vary significantly between Pakistan and western countries. However, positive resources exist in the ordinary family life of Pakistan. Some families with mentally handicapped children appreciate teachers' efforts to explain bodily changes, personal hygiene, and appropriate social behavior, under the title of modesty education. Professionals in Pakistan must walk delicately past easily inflamed conservative forces while making progress toward relieving the suffering of abuse victims and educating the public. The accumulation of reliable and culturally sensitive information from a broad range of sources and the wider dissemination of this information are important factors in supporting progress on these issues. 52 references (Author abstract modified)