S3XUAL VIOLENCE: Sub-Saharan Africa worst place for girls globally —UNICEF

A staggering report from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that Sub-Saharan Africa is the most treacherous region for girls worldwide, with an alarming 79 million girls and women affected by sexual violence.

According to the report, released on Thursday, Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 22% of global victims, followed closely by Eastern and South-Eastern Asia with 75 million (8%) and Central and Southern Asia with 73 million (9%). The data, compiled from national statistics and international surveys conducted between 2010 and 2022, paints a grim picture of the scale of the crisis.

“Sexual violence against children is a stain on our moral conscience,” declared UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “We must confront this harsh reality and work collectively to protect our children from this scourge.”

The report highlights that approximately one in five girls in Sub-Saharan Africa suffers abuse before the age of 18, with worldwide estimates suggesting around 370 million girls and women have endured sexual violence.

Nankali Maksud, a regional child violence specialist based in Nairobi, emphasized the far-reaching impacts of the abuse. “It is generations of trauma,” Maksud noted.

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“The trauma endured by survivors has significant consequences on development efforts, especially education. We’re pushing to get girls into school, but a girl who has been raped or assaulted struggles to learn.”

Conflict-ridden regions, such as Sudan, record the highest rates of sexual violence. Aid agencies have raised concerns about the heightened risks for women and girls due to ongoing conflicts.

Regional Breakdown:

– Sub-Saharan Africa: 79 million (22%)
– Eastern and South-Eastern Asia: 75 million (8%)
– Central and Southern Asia: 73 million (9%)
– Europe and Northern America: 68 million (14%)
– Latin America and the Caribbean: 45 million (18%)
– Northern Africa and Western Asia: 29 million (15%)
– Oceania: 6 million (34%)

Experts Call for Action:

The report underscores the urgent need for collective action to address this crisis. “We must work together to create safe environments for girls and women,” Russell emphasized. “This includes supporting survivors, holding perpetrators accountable, and addressing the root causes of this violence.”

As the international community grapples with the sheer scale of this crisis, one thing is clear: immediate action is required to protect the rights and dignity of girls and women worldwide.

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