Worldwide, over 370 million women and girls are sexually abused before the age of 18

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that over 370 million girls and women worldwide have been raped or sexually abused before the age of 18. This shocking statistic means that one in eight teenage girls or women worldwide have experienced some form of sexual violence.

In its first-ever global and regional estimates on sexual violence against children, released ahead of the International Day of the Girl, UNICEF highlighted that the majority of childhood sexual abuse occurs in adolescence, with a significant increase between the ages of 14 and 17 .

The report also found that when non-contact forms of sexual violence such as online harassment or verbal abuse are included, the number of girls and women affected rises to 650 million – equivalent to one in five worldwide.

“In fragile environments, such as those with weak institutions, the presence of UN peacekeepers, or large numbers of refugees fleeing political or security crises, girls are at even greater risk,” said the report, which found that more than one in four girls experience rape or sexual assault in their childhood in this vulnerable environment.

UNICEF highlighted that survivors of childhood sexual violence often carry the trauma into adulthood, leading to an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections, substance abuse, social isolation and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Many survivors also have difficulty forming healthy relationships later in life. The effects are worsened when children delay or are unable to disclose their abuse, and some even remain silent.

The report found that Africa has the highest prevalence of childhood sexual violence, with 79 million girls and women affected, representing about 22 percent of the population. Other regions with significant numbers include East and Southeast Asia (75 million), Central and South Asia (73 million), Europe and North America (68 million), Latin America and the Caribbean (45 million), North Africa and West Asia (29). million) and Oceania (6 million).

While the report focused primarily on girls and women, UNICEF also pointed out that boys and men are not immune to the problem. An estimated 240 to 310 million boys and men – about one in eleven – experienced rape or sexual assault during their childhood.

Catherine Russell, the executive director of UNICEF, called sexual violence against children a “stain on the moral conscience of humanity.” She highlighted the lasting trauma it causes, often caused by someone the child knows and trusts, in spaces where they should feel safe.

“Children in fragile environments are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence. “We are witnessing horrific acts in conflict zones where rape and gender-based violence are used as weapons of war,” Russell said.