From age 11 to 15, 17 year old Brazilian Sonia (not her real name) was sexually abused by an older male cousin. At 15, she became pregnant and had an abortion, but while the abortion was reported to the police, the abuse was ignored.
Photo: UNICEF/HQ01-0431/Claudio Versiani
Protecting children is crucial to their survival, health, and wellbeing. Despite this, every single day children are exploited, abused, or are victims of violence. Millions of children are forced to be soldiers, prostitutes, sweatshop workers and servants; many others are forced against their will into early marriages.
Abuse, exploitation and violence, which usually happen in secret, are elements in organised crime and corruption but also all too often happen at home, behind closed doors. Only time reveals the consequences: children with mental and physical health problems; children who are uneducated and impoverished.
Children have the right to be protected from harm, but millions are currently slipping through the net. About 3,500 children under the age of 15 die each year in developed countries from maltreatment, physical abuse and neglect. They suffer at home, at work, and in situations when they’re separated from their families. Below are some of the many situations where children need to be protected:
- They may be vulnerable because one or both of their parents have died and there’s no one to look after them. In Central and Eastern Europe alone, almost 1.5 million children live in public care. Globally, an estimated 15 million children have been orphaned as a result of AIDS.
- They might be in trouble with the law. More than 1 million children worldwide are in prison or other kinds of detention, often in bad conditions.
- They might be forced to work. Approximately 218 million children work, with about 126 million engaged in the most dangerous forms of child labour.
- They could be exploited. An estimated 1.2 million children are “trafficked” every year. Two million children are believed to be sexually exploited through prostitution and pornography.
- They could be at risk from violence. Around the world, 40 million children below the age of 15 suffer from abuse and neglect and require health and social care.
How UNICEF helps
UNICEF works with governments, schools and all those responsible for the welfare of children to improve the support and protection provided to children globally. We look at child protection laws that are in place and recommend changes where these are needed. We speak out where children are badly treated and we support projects for children who have been the victims of abuse. We protect children who have been separated from their families in times of crisis or who have become orphans.
Further issues