UNITED NATIONS, Oct 9 (Reuters) - A new report from the United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, reveals that more than 370 million girls and women, or one in every eight worldwide, have experienced rape or sexual assault before the age of 18. The report, described as the first global survey of the issue, indicates that the number rises to 650 million, or one in five, when including non-contact forms of sexual violence such as online or verbal abuse.
While girls and women are disproportionately affected, the report also highlights that between 240 to 310 million boys and men, or around one in 11, have faced similar experiences during childhood. UNICEF emphasizes the overwhelming scale of this human rights violation, which has been obscured by stigma and limited data collection efforts.
The report is released ahead of the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, set to take place in Colombia next month. UNICEF calls for urgent global action, including stronger laws and educational programs to help children recognize and report sexual violence.
Geographically, Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest number of victims, with 79 million girls and women affected, representing 22 percent of the population in that region. Eastern and South-Eastern Asia follows with 75 million affected. Other regions such as Central and Southern Asia, Europe and Northern America, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Northern Africa and Western Asia also report significant numbers of victims.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell described sexual violence against children as “a stain on our moral conscience,” emphasizing the deep and lasting trauma inflicted on victims, often by someone they know and trust. The report indicates that most childhood sexual violence occurs during adolescence, particularly between the ages of 14 and 17, leading to increased risks of sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse, and mental health issues.
UNICEF stresses the need for enhanced investment in data collection to fully understand the scope of the problem, particularly regarding boys' experiences. The estimates for girls' and women's experiences are based on nationally representative surveys conducted between 2010 and 2022 across 120 countries.