Highest number of sexual violence victims in sub-Saharan Africa

More than 370 million girls and women alive today – or 1 in 8 – experienced rape or sexual assault before the age of 18, with the highest number of victims in sub-Saharan Africa.This is according to new estimates released by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef).The fund said the first-ever global and regional estimates on sexual violence against children reveal the scale of the violation worldwide, especially for adolescent girls, often with lifelong implications.It said when ‘non-contact’ forms of sexual violence, such as online or verbal abuse are included, the number of girls and women affected rises to 650 million globally – or 1 in 5 – underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive prevention and support strategies to effectively address all forms of violence and abuse.“Sexual violence against children is a stain on our moral conscience,” said Unicef executive director Catherine Russell. “It inflicts deep and lasting trauma, often by someone the child knows and trusts, in places where they should feel safe.”Pervasive crisis Data shows that sexual violence against children is pervasive, cutting across geographical, cultural and economic boundaries.The report said sub-Saharan Africa has the highest number of victims, with 79 million girls and women affected, followed by 75 million in eastern and south-eastern Asia, 73 million in central and southern Asia, 68 million in Europe and northern America, 45 million in Latin America and the Caribbean, 29 million in Northern Africa and Western Asia, and six million in Oceania.According to the data, most childhood sexual violence occurs during adolescence, with a significant spike between ages 14 and 17.“Studies show that children who experience sexual violence are more likely to suffer repeated abuse. Implementing targeted interventions during adolescence is crucial to breaking this cycle and mitigating the long-term impacts of such trauma," the report states. Long-term traumaUnicef said survivors often carry the trauma of sexual violence into adulthood, facing higher risks of sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse, social isolation and mental health issues like anxiety and depression, as well as challenges in forming healthy relationships. “Evidence shows that the impact is further compounded when children delay disclosing their experiences, sometimes for long periods, or keep the abuse secret altogether.”Although more girls and women are affected and their experiences are better documented, boys and men are also impacted, the data shows.An estimated 240 to 310 million boys and men – or around 1 in 11 – have experienced rape or sexual assault during childhood. This estimate rises to between 410 and 530 million when non-contact forms are included.Persistent data gaps, particularly on boys’ experiences and non-contact forms of sexual violence, highlight the need for increased investment in data collection to capture the full scale of sexual violence against children.

Highest number of sexual violence victims in sub-Saharan Africa

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-07

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Highest number of sexual violence victims in sub-Saharan Africa

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-07

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