The Daily Mail has published a new report on “bacha bazi,” a form of child sexual exploitation, stating that the practice continues on a widespread and clandestine basis in Afghanistan, with children from impoverished families bearing the brunt of the abuse.

In its report published on Saturday, May 30, the Daily Mail described how adolescent boys are, in some cases, forced to dress in women’s clothing and makeup and perform before groups of powerful men, after which they are subjected to sexual abuse.

The report notes that this practice has deep historical roots and has persisted in Afghanistan for decades, with victims drawn overwhelmingly from poor families.

The Daily Mail reported that the Taliban recruit children through coercion and deception, including false promises, and that documented cases have linked Taliban officials and other armed groups to the practice.

Despite the Taliban’s public claims of opposition to bacha bazi, the report finds that the practice continues behind closed doors.

Many survivors, the report notes, have recounted experiences of violence, assault, and severe psychological trauma, and are discarded once they reach adulthood.

The Daily Mail also reported that some victims, lacking social support and facing desperate economic conditions, go on to struggle with addiction, extreme poverty, or lasting psychological damage.

The report stresses that despite bacha bazi’s formal prohibition, international bodies continue to raise alarm over its persistence in parts of Afghanistan.

The United States Department of State similarly noted in its Trafficking in Persons Report that child recruitment, human trafficking, and bacha bazi remain ongoing in Afghanistan.