Over 1 billion children experience physical, sexual and emotional violence annually: WHO

0
74

WHO News Release

Islamabad: More than half of the world’s children, an estimated 1 billion aged 2-17, suffer some form of violence each year, World Health Organization (WHO) Thursday said, adding that 3 out of every 5 children experience physical punishment in their homes, 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 7 boys encounter sexual violence, and up to 50% endure bullying.

In response to this crisis, over 100 governments gathered in Bogotá, Colombia, pledging concrete actions to eliminate childhood violence through legislative, educational, and social support measures.

At this landmark event, organized by the governments of Colombia and Sweden along with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the United Nations Special Representative on Violence against Children, leaders made historic commitments, including bans on corporal punishment and significant investments in digital safety, child protection, and parenting support.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the need for urgent action, stating, “Violence against children is highly preventable, yet remains a tragic daily reality. Today’s pledges offer a pathway to turn the tide on this crisis by focusing on support for families, safer schools, and tackling online abuse.”

Several governments committed to introducing new measures to protect children, including eight countries—Burundi, Czechia, Gambia, Kyrgyzstan, Panama, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and Tajikistan—pledging to ban corporal punishment in all settings, while Nigeria committed to a ban in schools.

The Solomon Islands promised to raise the minimum age of marriage from 15 to 18 to curb early marriage, a known risk factor for adolescent violence. Spain announced plans for a new digital law promoting online safety for children, and Tanzania committed to establishing child protection desks in all 25,000 of its schools.

The conference underscores the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals, which outline targets for ending violence against children globally. However, while some countries have made progress, global reductions have been slow, with 9 out of 10 children still living in places where corporal punishment or other forms of abuse remain legal.

A core theme of the commitments is empowering caregivers to prevent violence through positive parenting. Studies indicate that education and support for parents help reduce violent discipline and promote nurturing relationships.

School-based initiatives were also highlighted as key to building children’s resilience and social skills, particularly against bullying. According to research, implementing these strategies can reduce violence against children by as much as 20-50%.

High-level representatives from governments, civil society, and youth survivors were among the 1,000 attendees at the conference, marking the first global ministerial event dedicated to ending violence against children. Many countries committed to national policies and strategic action plans, while the United Kingdom announced a new Global Taskforce to address violence in schools.

WHO continues to support these global efforts by offering technical guidance, preventive strategies, and research to inform effective child protection policies.

Ends