MyJoyOnline cites UNICEF estimates on sexual violence against children

Ghanaian outlet MyJoyOnline published a column by engineer and professor Douglas Boateng on violence, exploitation and trafficking of children. Citing UNICEF estimates, the author noted that more than 370 million girls and women alive today experienced rape or sexual violence before the age of 18.

UNICEF global estimates

According to the data cited in the column, this is approximately one in eight girls or women worldwide. If non-contact forms of sexual violence are included, the figure rises to 650 million people, or one in five. UNICEF also estimates that between 240 million and 310 million boys and men may have experienced rape or sexual violence in childhood.

For countries in sub-Saharan Africa, UNICEF estimates the number of girls and women who experienced rape or sexual violence before reaching adulthood at 79 million. Boateng stressed that sexual violence against boys often does not appear in statistics because of stigma and shame.

Data on Ghana and South Africa

In Ghana, about 15% of girls aged 15–19 have experienced pregnancy, nearly nine out of ten children live in multidimensional poverty, and approximately one in five women aged 20–24 married before turning 18, the article says, citing UNICEF.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

Regarding South Africa, the author cited UNICEF data based on police statistics: during one quarter, more than three children were killed there every day, while the number of attempted murders increased by 35.7% year on year. Separate Statistics South Africa data cited by UNICEF indicate that 58 children experience sexual violence every day; children account for about 40% of reported sexual offences.

Child trafficking and protection

According to UN data cited by the author, children accounted for 38% of identified victims of human trafficking worldwide in 2022, compared with 13% in 2004. Among girls who became victims of human trafficking, 60% experienced sexual exploitation; for boys, common forms included forced labour, involvement in crime and begging.

Boateng recalled that UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.2 calls for ending violence, exploitation and trafficking of children by 2030. At the same time, the UN reports that 1.6 billion children, or approximately two-thirds of all children worldwide, regularly experience violent punishment by caregivers at home.