The United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF, reports that one in eight girls and young women worldwide have experienced rape or sexual violence, with the highest prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa.
In its first global estimate of sexual violence against children, UNICEF reveals that 79 million girls, or one in five, in conflict-affected sub-Saharan regions have been subjected to rape or sexual assault before the age of 18.
“This is terrifying,” said Nankali Maksud, a child violence specialist based in Nairobi, Kenya, highlighting the generational impact of such trauma. Maksud noted that the effects often hindered the victims’ ability to succeed in school.
Globally, around 370 million, or one in eight, girls and young women have been affected by sexual violence. The figure increases to 650 million, or one in five, when including non-contact forms of sexual abuse, such as online or verbal harassment, according to the agency’s report released on Wednesday. While girls are most impacted, the report indicates that 240 to 310 million boys and men, approximately one in 11, have also experienced sexual violence during childhood.
“Sexual violence against children is a stain on our moral conscience,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “It inflicts profound and lasting trauma, often committed by someone the child knows and trusts, in places where they should feel safe.”
The report found the highest numbers in “fragile settings” – areas with weak institutions, the presence of UN peacekeeping forces, or significant refugee populations. Russell added that in conflict zones, rape and gender-based violence are frequently used as weapons of war.
The data indicates that sexual violence against children is a global issue, transcending geographical, cultural, and economic differences.
Sub-Saharan Africa reported the highest number of victims, with 79 million affected, followed by 75 million in Eastern and Southeastern Asia, 73 million in Central and Southern Asia, 68 million in Europe and North America, 45 million in Latin America and the Caribbean, 29 million in Northern Africa and Western Asia, and 6 million in Oceania.
Claudia Cappa, UNICEF’s chief statistician, explained that the figures are based on data collected between 2010 and 2022 through national surveys and international programs, but acknowledged gaps and under-reporting in some countries.
