Originally published on Yahoo News Digest on September 5, 2014—
“About 120 million girls worldwide—slightly more than one in 10—have been forced to have sex by the age of 20. Further, one-fifth of all homicide victims globally are under 20 years old, resulting in 95,000 deaths in 2012, according to a new United Nations report. Drawing on data from 190 countries, the report from the U.N. children’s agency, UNICEF, notes that children around the world are routinely exposed to physical, sexual and emotional violence ranging from murder and forced sexual acts to bullying and abusive discipline. UNICEF also says 95,000 children and teenagers—most of them in Latin America and the Caribbean—were murdered in 2012 alone.
These are uncomfortable facts—no government or parent will want to see them.
Anthony Lake , UNICEF Executive Director
The study also found that about 17 percent of youngsters in 58 countries were subject to severe forms of physical punishment, including being hit on the head, ears or face or being hit hard and repeatedly. The UN report also tackles the mindsets it says perpetuate and justify such violence. It recommended strategies for preventing violence against children, including: supporting parents and equipping children with life skills; strengthening judicial, criminal and social systems and services; and generating evidence and awareness about violence and its human and socio-economic costs.”
For the rest of the original article, please click here.
HUMAN RIGHTS SOCIETY 