Hundreds of millions of people globally are traumatized by sexual violence they experienced during childhood, the United Nations organization tasked with protecting children’s rights said in its first global estimate of the phenomenon. More than 370 million girls and women alive today — or 1 in 8 — experienced rape or sexual assault before turning 18, UNICEF said in a report Wednesday. When other forms of sexual violence are included, such as online or verbal abuse, the percentage rises to 1 in 5 women globally who have experienced it as children, the organization says. Why it matters: “Sexual violence against children is a stain on our moral conscience,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s executive director. Survivors are at higher risk of sexually transmitted disease, substance abuse, social isolation, and mental health issues, according to UNICEF. Where it happens: Everywhere, but the prevalence is highest in low-income countries, where 1 in 4 women experienced rape or sexual assault during childhood, according to the report. High-income countries come second: about 15 percent of women living there experienced it, followed by middle-income countries, where 11 percent of women survived a rape or sexual assault. Regionally, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest number of women who experienced sexual violence as children: 79 million, followed by eastern and southeastern Asia, with 75 million, and central and southern Asia, with 73 million. Most sexual violence occurs during adolescence, according to the data UNICEF gathered from some 200 countries. Since many people do not report sexual violence due to stigma or shame, the numbers are thought to be an underestimate of how pervasive the phenomenon is globally. And although sexual violence affects girls and women more, and their experiences are better documented, boys and men are also affected, the report shows. Around 1 in 11 boys and men have experienced rape or sexual assault during childhood. What’s next? Government officials from around the world will meet to discuss the issue at a conference in Bogota, Colombia next month. Meanwhile, UNICEF called for global action to: — Challenge and change social norms that allow sexual violence to occur and that discourage children from seeking help — Teach children in an age-appropriate way how to recognize and report sexual violence — Ensure access to justice and healing for every victim to reduce the risk of further harm — Strengthen laws to protect children from all forms of sexual violence — Build better national data systems to track the phenomenon and ensure accountability
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