The latest report from UNICEF reveals shocking statistics regarding sexual violence against children worldwide. More than 370 million girls have experienced sexual violence before the age of 18, with one in eight girls and young women falling victim to rape and sexual violence. The highest number of victims was recorded in sub-Saharan Africa, where 79 million girls – one in five – had endured sexual assault or rape before reaching the age of 18. This global estimate highlights the widespread issue of sexual violence that is affecting millions of girls and young women across the world, with devastating consequences for their physical and mental well-being.
Nankali Maksud, a child violence specialist at UNICEF based in Nairobi, Kenya, described the situation as terrifying, emphasizing the generational trauma caused by sexual abuse. Girls who have been victims of sexual violence often struggle to learn at school, further exacerbating the impact of the trauma on their lives. The report also revealed that globally, sexual violence has affected some 370 million girls and young women, with the number rising to 650 million when considering non-contact forms of sexual violence, such as online or verbal abuse. These findings underscore the urgent need for action to address this pervasive issue and protect children from harm.
While girls and women are disproportionately affected by sexual violence, the report also highlights that 240 to 310 million boys and men have experienced rape or sexual assault during childhood, representing about one in 11 individuals. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell described sexual violence against children as a stain on our moral conscience, stressing the deep and lasting trauma inflicted on victims, often by someone they know and trust. The data revealed that sexual violence is most prevalent in fragile settings, including conflict zones, areas with weak institutions, and regions with high numbers of refugees, where rape and gender-based violence are frequently used as weapons of war.
The report demonstrates that sexual violence against children transcends geographical, cultural, and economic boundaries, affecting millions of children in various regions of the world. Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest number of victims, followed by Eastern and Southeastern Asia, Central and Southern Asia, Europe and Northern America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Northern Africa and Western Asia, and Oceania. The release of these figures marks a significant milestone in understanding the scale of sexual violence against children, as they were calculated using national data and international survey programs from 2010 to 2022.
Despite the progress in data collection, there are inevitable gaps and under-reporting from some countries, indicating that the actual number of victims could be even higher than what is currently reported. UNICEF Chief Statistician Claudia Cappa emphasized the importance of addressing these gaps to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the extent of sexual violence against children globally. The report sheds light on the urgent need for policies, interventions, and support systems to protect children from sexual violence and ensure their safety and well-being. It also calls for greater awareness, education, and advocacy to address the root causes of sexual violence and work towards a world where all children are safe and protected from harm.
