A recent report released by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday has shed light on the alarming rates of sexual violence against girls, revealing that one in eight girls globally experiences rape or sexual assault before turning 18. This equates to approximately 370 million girls affected worldwide.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell expressed grave concern over the findings, stating, "Sexual violence against children is a stain on our moral conscience. It inflicts deep and lasting trauma, often by someone the child knows and trusts, in places where they should feel safe."

The report also highlighted "non-contact" forms of sexual violence, such as online and verbal abuse, which further increase the scale of the problem. When these forms of violence are considered, the number of affected girls rises to 650 million, or one in five.

Widespread Impact Across Regions

The issue of sexual violence against children is pervasive across all regions and cultures. According to UNICEF’s findings, Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest number of victims, with 79 million girls affected. This is followed by 75 million girls in East and Southeast Asia, and 68 million in Europe and North America.

The report emphasized that sexual violence is especially prevalent in areas with fragile security, where the lack of protection leaves children more vulnerable.

Boys Also at Risk

While the focus of the report was largely on girls, UNICEF found that boys are also at significant risk. An estimated one in 11 boys, or between 240 million to 310 million globally, experience rape or sexual assault during their childhood.

UNICEF compiled its report based on data collected from 120 countries between 2010 and 2022, revealing the global scale and severity of this crisis.

The findings call for urgent action to protect children from sexual violence and ensure safe environments where they can grow without fear of abuse.