One in 10 girls sexually abused in the world: UNICEF

Taroudant- Around 120 million girls around the world, nearly one in 10, have been subject to rape or sexual abuse by the time they turn 20, a new UN report has found. The report shows that the most common perpetrators of sexual violence against girls are current or former husbands, partners or boyfriends. The 206 pages report entitled “HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT A statistical analysis of violence against children”, prepared by UNICEF, draws on data from 190 countries in order to shed light on a largely undocumented issue, the physical and sexual abuse of children. Susan Bissell, the Chief of Child Protection at UNICEF said in interview that the data essentials show that “if there is one common aspect of human society right now, it is the fact that tremendous violence is committed against children.” According to the report, “Sexual violence’ is often used as an umbrella term to cover all types of sexual victimization, including exploitative as well as non-exploitative forms.” "These are uncomfortable facts -- no government or parent will want to see them," said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. The same report said that sexual violence is not limited only to poor countries, but worryingly high rates of abuse are reported in some high-income states. According to the Rotherham child abuse report published by the Independent, 1,400 children subjected to 'appalling' sexual exploitation over 16-years.