- This is according to UNICEF’s latest report
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has identified Sub-Saharan Africa as one of the world’s most perilous regions for girls, with 79 million affected by sexual violence—the highest number globally.
According to UNICEF’s latest report, the region accounts for 22% of the global total, followed by Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (75 million), Central and Southern Asia (73 million), and Europe and Northern America (68 million). Worldwide, an estimated 370 million girls and women have experienced sexual violence, with one in five victims in sub-Saharan Africa abused before the age of 18.
“Sexual violence against children is a stain on our moral conscience,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
Nankali Maksud, a child violence specialist based in Nairobi, emphasized the trauma’s generational impact on development efforts, particularly education. “We’re pushing to get girls into school, but a girl who has been raped or assaulted struggles to learn.”
The report also highlighted conflict and insecurity as key drivers of vulnerability, with Sudan showing some of the highest rates of sexual violence due to ongoing conflicts. Aid agencies have raised alarms about the increased risks faced by women and girls in such regions.
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