More than 79 million women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa have experienced rape or sexual assault during childhood, according to data released by UNICEF on Thursday.
The UN children’s agency highlighted that the region ranks among the most dangerous places globally for girls. UNICEF estimates that 370 million girls and women worldwide have been affected by sexual violence, with one in five in sub-Saharan Africa enduring assault before the age of 18.
“Sexual violence against children is a stain on our moral conscience,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
The report, the first of its kind, was based on data from national surveys conducted between 2010 and 2022, although UNICEF acknowledged gaps in reporting and underrepresentation from certain countries. Claudia Cappa, UNICEF’s chief statistician, said, “We know the limitations, but we wanted to bring attention to the issue with concrete numbers.”
The trauma from such violence has far-reaching consequences. “A girl who has been raped or assaulted struggles to learn, even if we push her into school,” said Nankali Maksud, UNICEF’s regional specialist on child violence.
Regions plagued by conflict report the highest rates of abuse. In Sudan, aid organizations have raised alarms about the dangers facing girls and women amid ongoing violence. Russell added, “Children in fragile settings are especially vulnerable, and we are witnessing horrific cases of sexual violence in conflict zones.”
Human Rights Watch reported earlier this year that many survivors of sexual violence do not seek emergency care, and the number of reported cases likely represents only a fraction of the true total.
