UNICEF: Over 370m women, girls sexually assaulted globally before age 18

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that more than 370 million girls and women have been raped or sexually assaulted globally before the age of 18.

This means that one in every eight teenage girls or women in the world have experienced one form of sexual assault or the other.

In its first-ever global and regional estimates on sexual violence against children, published ahead of the international day of the girl child, UNICEF highlighted that the majority of childhood sexual violence occurs during adolescence, with a sharp increase between the ages of 14 and 17.

The report further stated that when non-contact forms of sexual violence, such as online or verbal abuse, are considered, the number of affected girls and women rises to 650 million globally, equating to 1 in 5.

“In fragile settings, including those with weak institutions, UN peacekeeping forces, or where large numbers of refugees are fleeing political or security crises, girls face an even greater risk, with over 1 in 4 experiencing rape or sexual assault during childhood,” the report noted.

UNICEF explained that survivors often carry the trauma of sexual violence into adulthood, facing heightened risks of sexually transmitted infections, substance abuse, social isolation, and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression and may struggle to form healthy relationships.

The organisation pointed out that the long-term impact is exacerbated when children delay disclosing their abuse or choose to remain silent altogether.

The report indicates that Africa has the highest prevalence, with 79 million girls and women affected — approximately 22 percent.

Others are eastern and south eastern Asia with 75 million, 73 million in central and southern Asia, 68 million in Europe and Northern America, 45 million in Latin America and the Caribbean, 29 million in northern Africa and western Asia, and six million in Oceania.

While the data predominantly focuses on girls and women, UNICEF also highlighted the fact that boys and men are not exempt from the issue.

An estimated 240 to 310 million boys and men—around 1 in 11— have experienced rape or sexual assault during childhood.

Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s executive director, described sexual violence against children as a stain on humanity’s moral conscience.

“It inflicts profound and lasting trauma, often perpetrated by someone the child knows and trusts, in places where they should feel safe,” Russell said.

“Children in fragile settings are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence. We are witnessing horrific acts in conflict zones, where rape and gender-based violence are used as weapons of war.”