The Global Reality of Violence Against Children
After joining the Daram community, we were deeply influenced by its commitment to protecting children’s rights worldwide. Motivated by this, we conducted some research on the global children’s situation. The data presented here is sourced from the internet. While we’ve tried my best to verify its accuracy, we cannot guarantee complete precision, so it’s provided for reference only. As we reflect on these findings, let us collectively advocate for greater awareness of and attention to children’s rights across the globe.
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Overview of Violence Against Children Globally
Violence against children is a global issue that affects hundreds of millions of children across the world. According to UNICEF, more than half of the world’s children aged 2 to 17—approximately 1 billion—have experienced some form of violence.
Key data includes:
1. Around 50% of children aged 2 to 17 experience violence each year, including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.
2. 60% of children are subjected to physical punishment at home.
3. Every 7 minutes, an adolescent dies due to violence somewhere in the world.
4. On average, a child or adolescent dies from homicide every 13 minutes globally.
These figures reveal not only the widespread nature of violence against children but also its deadly consequences.
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Types of Violence and Their Impact
Sexual Violence
Sexual violence is one of the most severe forms of abuse children endure. Global statistics show:
- Over 370 million girls—1 in 8—experience sexual violence or abuse before the age of 18.
- Approximately 120 million girls worldwide are sexually abused before the age of 20.
- In countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, one-third of girls report experiencing some form of sexual violence.
- Between 240 million and 310 million boys—about 1 in 11—experience sexual violence during childhood.
- In 24 countries, the percentage of girls who experience sexual violence ranges from 8% to 31%, while for boys, it ranges from 3% to 17%.
If forms of non-contact sexual violence, such as online abuse or verbal harassment, are included, the number of affected girls and young women rises to 650 million—1 in 5 globally.
Physical Violence
Physical violence is another common form of abuse:
- Approximately 300 million children aged 2 to 4 are subjected to psychological aggression and/or physical punishment at home.
- In Brazil alone, 126,230 cases of violence against children and adolescents were reported in 2017, with 21,559 resulting in death.
School Violence
Violence in schools is a significant issue:
- Between 25% and 50% of children worldwide experience bullying at school.
- In Afghanistan, 63% of children have experienced peer bullying.
- Nearly one-third of students aged 11 to 15 report being bullied by peers at least once in the past month.
Neglect and Psychological Violence
Neglect and psychological abuse are often overlooked but are the third most common forms of violence, after physical and emotional abuse.
- Approximately 28.3% of children worldwide experience neglect or abandonment.
- More than one-third of children globally are affected by emotional abuse.
- One in four children under the age of 5 lives with a mother who experiences intimate partner violence.
Other Forms of Violence
- Online harassment is on the rise, with cases increasing from 1 million in 2014 to 45 million in 2018.
- Children with disabilities are nearly four times more likely to experience violence than their peers. Those with mental or intellectual disabilities face particularly high levels of risk.
- Children make up 30% of all victims of human trafficking.
- Approximately 20% of adolescents aged 13 to 18 experience physical violence in dating relationships, and 9% report sexual violence in these contexts.
- At any given time, an estimated 750,000 people are online attempting to contact children for sexual purposes.
- In fragile environments, such as refugee camps or areas with weak institutions or UN peacekeeping forces, the rate of sexual abuse and violence against children rises to over 25%.
- Currently, one-quarter of the world’s children live in countries affected by conflict or disaster, with nearly 50 million displaced due to violence, poverty, or natural disasters.
Example
In Brazil, violence statistics from 2017 show 198,035 reported cases. Of these, 27,315 involved children, and 38,137 involved adolescents.
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Conclusion
Violence has profound and far-reaching impacts on children.
The severity and prevalence of violence against children require comprehensive prevention and intervention efforts.
This is a complex and urgent global issue. Protecting children from violence is not only a moral responsibility but also essential for ensuring sustainable societal development. Every child deserves the right to grow up in a safe environment free from violence and fear. Achieving this requires the combined efforts of families, communities, governments, and the international community. At the same time, my heart is also very heavy. Only through collaboration can we create a better future for all children. The Daram Community will certainly continue to pay attention and contribute its part.
Compiled and Written by Geese of the Daram Community.