The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that over 370 million girls and women worldwide have been raped or sexually assaulted before the age of 18. This startling statistic means that one in every eight teenage girls or women globally has experienced some form of sexual violence.
In its first-ever global and regional estimates on sexual violence against children, released ahead of the International Day of the Girl Child, UNICEF emphasized that the majority of childhood sexual abuse happens during adolescence, with a significant rise between the ages of 14 and 17.
The report further noted that when non-contact forms of sexual violence, such as online harassment or verbal abuse, are included, the number of affected girls and women jumps to 650 million—equivalent to one in five worldwide.
“In fragile settings, such as those with weak institutions, the presence of UN peacekeeping forces, or large numbers of refugees fleeing political or security crises, girls face an even greater risk,” the report stated, revealing that more than one in four girls experience rape or sexual assault during childhood in these vulnerable environments.
UNICEF stressed that survivors of childhood sexual violence often carry the trauma into adulthood, leading to an increased likelihood of sexually transmitted infections, substance abuse, social isolation, and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Many survivors also struggle to form healthy relationships later in life. The impact is worsened when children delay or are unable to disclose their abuse, with some remaining silent altogether.
The report revealed that Africa has the highest prevalence of childhood sexual violence, with 79 million girls and women affected, representing about 22 percent of the population. Other regions with significant numbers include eastern and southeastern Asia (75 million), central and southern Asia (73 million), Europe and Northern America (68 million), Latin America and the Caribbean (45 million), northern Africa and western Asia (29 million), and Oceania (6 million).
While the report mainly focused on girls and women, UNICEF also pointed out that boys and men are not immune to the issue. An estimated 240 to 310 million boys and men—approximately one in eleven—have experienced rape or sexual assault during childhood.
Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s executive director, called sexual violence against children a “stain on humanity’s moral conscience.” She emphasised the lasting trauma it inflicts, often perpetrated by someone the child knows and trusts in spaces where they should feel safe.
“Children in fragile settings are especially vulnerable to sexual violence. We are witnessing horrific acts in conflict zones, where rape and gender-based violence are used as weapons of war,” Russell stated.