More than 79 million women and girls across sub-Saharan Africa have experienced rape or sexual assault during childhood, according to a report by UNICEF released on Thursday.
The UN children’s agency highlighted that the region ranks among the most dangerous places globally for girls.
UNICEF estimates that worldwide, around 370 million girls and women have endured sexual violence, with approximately one in five in sub-Saharan Africa suffering abuse before the age of 18.
“Sexual violence against children is a stain on our moral conscience,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
The new data, presented for the first time, was compiled from national statistics and international surveys conducted between 2010 and 2022, explained Claudia Cappa, UNICEF’s chief statistician.
Despite inevitable gaps and underreporting, the figures aim to bring visibility to the scale of the crisis.
“It’s terrifying,” said Nankali Maksud, a regional child violence specialist based in Nairobi. “It is generations of trauma,” she added, emphasising the far-reaching impacts of the abuse.
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,” said Maksud.
Regions facing conflict and insecurity, such as Sudan, see the highest rates of sexual violence. Aid agencies have raised alarms about the heightened risks for women and girls due to ongoing conflicts.
“Children in fragile settings are especially vulnerable to sexual violence,” added Russell.
In conflict zones, sexual violence, including rape, is often used as a weapon of war, further compounding the trauma.
First responders have reported that only a fraction of cases are documented, as many survivors are unable or unwilling to seek help, according to Human Rights Watch.
AFP
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