Sexual exploitation

From widespread killing, maiming, abduction and sexual violence to recruitment into armed forces and groups and strikes on schools and hospitals, as well as essential water facilities – children living in conflict zones around the world continue to come under attack on a shocking scale.  To better monitor, prevent, and end these attacks, the…, 1. Killing and maiming of children, Killing and maiming of children can be a result of direct targeting or indirect actions, including torture. Killing and maiming can occur through crossfire, landmines, cluster munitions, improvised or other indiscriminate explosive devices or even in the context of military operations, house demolitions, search-and-arrest campaigns, or suicide…, 2. Recruitment or use of children in armed forces and armed groups, Recruitment or use of children in armed forces and armed groups refers to compulsory, forced, or voluntary conscription or enlistment of children into any kind of armed force or armed group. The use of boys and girls by armed forces or armed groups can be in any capacity, including as fighters, cooks, porters, messengers and spies, or when they…, 3. Attacks on schools or hospitals, Attacks on schools or hospitals include the targeting of schools or medical facilities that cause the total or partial destruction of such facilities. Schools and hospitals should be protected spaces, where children are safe even in times of conflict, yet continued attacks on such facilities have underscored the catastrophic impact of armed…, 4. Rape or other grave sexual violence, Conflict-related sexual violence remains one of the most disturbing violation of children’s rights and has often been used as a tactic of war. Rape or other grave sexual violence includes acts of rape, other sexual violence, sexual slavery and/or trafficking, enforced prostitution, forced marriage or pregnancy, enforced sterilization, or sexual…, 5. Abduction of children, Abduction of children refers to the unlawful removal, seizure, capture, apprehension, or enforced disappearance of a child either temporarily or permanently. Whether it’s an intentional act of violence or retaliation, to instill fear among populations, or to forcibly recruit and/or sexually abuse children, abduction is one of the most pervasive…, 6. Denial of humanitarian access for children, Denial of humanitarian access for children includes the intentional deprivation or impediment of humanitarian assistance essential for children’s survival by parties to the conflict, including willfully impeding the ability of humanitarian or other relevant actors to access and assist affected children in situations of armed conflict.  Warring…, What UNICEF is doing , Lebanon. A Syrian refugee holds a box of supplies. A Syrian refugee holds a box of supplies in Lebanon. UNICEF and partners are continuing to provide care and protection for children living through war, advocating on their behalf, and engaging with all parties to conflict to ensure their rights are upheld. In addition to providing emergency and…

Working in close collaboration with a coalition of governments, United Nations agencies, civil society organizations and other partners, UNICEF child protection (Goal Area 3) teams around the world were able to deliver a wide array of results across 153 countries, including to 124 new and ongoing humanitarian situations. Scaled-up interventions,…, 4.4 million children who experienced violence reached with related services (129 countries)  3 million parents and caregivers reached with UNICEF-supported parent education programmes (94 countries) Accelerating national progress to reduce all forms of violence  Across countries, the number of children experiencing violence who received health,…, child-soldier Child protection in humanitarian action, 12 million children, adolescents. parents and caregivers accessed mental health and psychosocial support  13.9 million women, girls and boys provided with risk mitigation, prevention or response interventions to address gender-based violence (89 countries) 61 million children and adults could access safe and accessible UNICEF-supported sexual…, portrait-girl Strengthening prevention and delivery of protection services to reduce harmful practices, Nearly 7.6 million adolescent girls were reached with UNICEF-supported child marriage prevention and care interventions (47 countries) Nearly 800k girls and women received UNICEF-supported prevention and protection services on FGM over the Strategic Plan 2018-2021 period Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNICEF and partners have adapted to…, Mother-and-child Promoting access to justice, birth registration and alternative care, Over 45,000 children were released across at least 84 countries since the start of of the COVID-19 pandemic after an unprecedented global call for the immediate release of children from detention 13.9 million birth notifications were received (52 countries) 41 countries have comprehensive policies and programmes in line with the 2009 Guidelines…, portrait-girl Looking forward, UNICEF will continue to advocate for putting child rights at the heart of economic plans and priorities as countries continue to fight poverty within their borders and rebuild systems shattered by the pandemic.  UNICEF’s new Child Protection Strategy, 2021–2030 , launched in 2021, provides a pivotal opportunity to build on our experiences and…, With thanks, This report highlights the achievements made possible by the generous contributions of softly earmarked thematic funding received from various partners. UNICEF would like to express it's sincere appreciation for these contributions., Read more and support our work, June 2022, Global Annual Results Report 2021 GOAL AREA 3 Every child is protected from violence and exploitation Cover image: UNICEF/UN0484305/UNICEF Afghanistan Children playing outside with hula-hoops at Child Friendly Space built by UNICEF in Balkh, a northern province of Afghanistan. Expression of thanks: UNICEF/UN0456813/Fuad Hands of a young girl (15)…

Online child sexual exploitation and abuse continue to grow and diversify. This report sets out how the WeProtect Global Alliance Model National Response framework is supporting national efforts to tackle this scourge. The WeProtect Global Alliance and UNICEF worked together on this review, which captures an extensive body of experience across 42…

The use of new, rapidly changing digital technologies to sexually exploit and abuse children, the wide reach of online services and the fact that such exploitation and abuse may involve victims and perpetrators from different jurisdictions, all pose challenges to States seeking to protect their children. Many States have yet to put in place or…

This brief is an extract from UNICEF’s report 'Ending online child sexual exploitation and abuse: Lessons learned and promising practices in low- and middle income countries' ( Ending Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse | UNICEF ), and sets out examples of scale up, adaptation and innovation in UNICEF programming to address children’s…

This report takes stock of UNICEF’s work to address online child sexual exploitation and abuse. It is intended for policymakers and practitioners to inform policy and practice in this field. Based primarily on analysis of survey responses from 29 UNICEF country offices, the report sets out the current level of implementation of the WeProtect Model…

In areas affected by conflict, natural disasters and other emergencies, people trust aid workers to assist and protect them.  The vast majority do so with professionalism and integrity. But some aid workers abuse their position of power through the sexual exploitation and abuse of those who depend on them, including children. These acts are…, UNICEF’s response, Young women fill water containers in a refugee camp in Tanzania in 2015. Young women fill water containers in a refugee camp in Tanzania in 2015. Women and children in emergency settings face the greatest risk of sexual exploitation and abuse. Every year, UNICEF and partners respond to emergencies around the world, with thousands of aid workers…, Safe and accessible reporting, This means that safe, accessible and child-sensitive complaint mechanisms are put  in place for reporting sexual exploitation and abuse in high-risk areas. These mechanisms can include phone hotlines, SMS services, designated focal persons and complaint boxes. Complaint mechanisms are tailored to the local context.  Community mobilization and…, Support and assistance for sexual exploitation and abuse survivors, Through our child protection and gender-based violence programmes, UNICEF supports survivors with holistic age- and gender-appropriate essential services that they can access safely and in confidence, including medical care, safety planning, social services, legal aid, and mental health and psychosocial support ., Enhanced accountability, including investigations, Safe, survivor-centered accountability processes are crucial. UNICEF is working to strengthen the collaboration between child protection workers and investigators so that children who choose to participate in accountability processes are supported and their rights are respected. The IASC Acceleration Plan is adapted within individual countries to…, Learn more, Resources, Publisher Title IASC IASC Plan for Accelerating Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Response at the Country Level UNICEF, IASC UNICEF-IASC Championship Report, 2018 – 2019 IASC Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Website United Nations UN Victim Assistance Protocol United Nations UN Secretary-General Bulletin on…

COVID-19 began as a global public health emergency but evolved rapidly into a child rights crisis that is unprecedented in both the universality of its scope and the inequality of its impacts. Children and women across countries and contexts faced increasing and intensifying threats to their safety and wellbeing – including abuse, violence,…, The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) threatens to reverse years of development gains and further inhibit progress towards protection-related SDGs by 2030. Though the full impact of the pandemic on children’s exposure to violence and exploitation is still emerging, at its peak, around 1.8 billion children lived in the 104 countries where violence…, Child protection links to the SDGs and Convention on the Rights of the Child, Goal Area 3 aims to ensure that every girl and boy is protected from all forms of violence, exploitation, abuse and harmful practices. This commitment is anchored in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and contributes to the achievement of protection-related Sustainable Development Goals., Strengthening child protection systems to reduce violence against children, Icon representing person getting hurt 4.2 million children who experienced violence reached with related services (126 countries) + 54% Icon representing affected population - 2 adults holding hands of a child 2.6 million parents and caregivers reached with UNICEF-supported parent education programmes (87 countries) + 14% Icon representing…, Accelerating national progress to reduce all forms of violence, Across 144 countries, UNICEF sought to maintain the continuity of its programmes and operations, while pivoting, adapting, and innovating approaches to reach an unprecedented number of children with prevention and responses services.  This included leveraging digital technology to offer caregiving resources to parents, expand the reach of mental…, Strengthening the social service workforce, At the start of the pandemic, child protection services, and the implicit role social service workers play in delivering these services, were not considered essential by many governments and received limited earmarked funds, making it difficult to support their continuity. UNICEF swiftly advocated for the social service workforce to be supported…, Strengthening information management systems, UNICEF recognizes integrated Information Management Systems (IMS) as a critical component of strengthening child protection systems. In 2020, UNICEF supported 111 countries to strengthen IMS for child protection, including 24 countries reporting an interoperable IMS to support and track case management and incident and programme monitoring in…, Child protection in humanitarian action, Icon representing psycho-social support - a small and a big hand together 47.2 million children, adolescents, parents and caregivers accessed mental health and psychosocial support (117 countries) Icon representing 5 year old girl 17.8 million women, girls and boys provided with risk mitigation, prevention or response interventions to address…, Mental health and psychosocial support, COVID-19 has both exacerbated the mental health burden affecting the world’s children and brought much-needed attention to mental health as an essential component of children’s well-being and development. In 2020, UNICEF expanded its reach across humanitarian and development contexts, providing critical community-based mental health and…, Gender-based violence in emergencies, COVID-19 quarantine and confinement measures and the ripple effect of the socio-economic impact of the pandemic increased the risks of gender-based violence (GBV) and worsened its severity, particularly for women and girls already at heightened risk of living in emergency and prolonged crisis contexts.  UNICEF galvanized the production of global…, Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, UNICEF has accelerated the scale up of protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), with 91 countries now having safe and accessible reporting channels for SEA, country action plans, PSEA training for partners and strengthened referral pathways for survivors. In 2020, 44.3 million children and adults could access safe and accessible…, Monitoring grave violations, UNICEF engages with the United Nations and partners to monitor and report grave violations of children’s rights in armed conflict including killing and maiming; recruitment and use; abduction; and sexual violence. The Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism documented over 26,000 grave violations across 21 countries in 2020. The number of children…, Children associated with armed forces and armed groups, Reintegration is a long-term process intended to enable children to transition from armed forces and groups to their families and communities. Despite access constraints caused by COVID-19, UNICEF documented around 12,790 children who exited armed forces or armed groups in 16 countries during 2020. Across 19 countries, UNICEF provided a range of…, Mine action and explosive weapons, In the context of COVID-19, it proved crucial to adapt and reimagine how mine action programming, in particular Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), was delivered in situations where face to face direct contact shifted to remote reach. This included the use of mass messaging through traditional and social media, and other forms of digital…, Unaccompanied and separated children, The COVID-19 pandemic, and the measures and policies put in place to contain the virus, heightened the risks of separation of children across humanitarian situations and development contexts, triggering a significant scale-up in programming in 2020.  UNICEF and partners supported UASC in 89 countries, across humanitarian situations and development…, Delivery of protection services to reduce harmful practices, A young girl writing and drawing Over 16.4 million people engaged through UNICEF-supported education, communication and social mobilization platforms to promote the elimination of FGM (20 countries) A girl wearing a jacket and colourful scarf Over 6 million adolescent girls were reached with UNICEF-supported child marriage prevention and care…, Child marriage, In 2020, UNICEF and partners supported 59 countries across all regions to implement rights-based interventions aimed at ending child marriage, adapting and innovating its approach in the context of COVID-19. Across 45 countries, around 5.3 million adolescent girls participated in life skills training or comprehensive sexuality education.…, Female Genital Mutilation, UNICEF contributed to important successes to eliminate FGM in 20 countries. To adjust programming due to COVID-19, focus was placed on scaling up proven interventions and adapting approaches to community-based interventions. UNICEF empowered around 2,156 communities in 14 countries to declare the abandonment of FGM and helped prevent around 120,…, Promoting access to justice for children, Icon representing justice - balance scales 412,900 children in 87 countries who were in contact with the law received services (277,700 in 65 countries in 2019) Icon representing registration - aperson beside a pencil 21.2 million births were registered (57 countries) and 15.1 million birth certificates were issued (51 countries) Icon representing…, Strengthening justice systems, UNICEF and partners supported 125 countries to ensure programme continuity and to mitigate the increased risks for children and adolescents in contact with the law. A major focus was on adapting advocacy and programming to address the immediate and wider impact of COVID-19 while balancing longer-term justice reforms. When the pandemic began,…, Improving birth registration, The impact of COVID-19 prevention and containment measures was immediate, severely disrupting the availability of civil registration services, including birth registration. At the height of the pandemic, over 40 countries noted drops of 10 per cent or more in related services.   To minimize the impact of service disruption and maintain a…, Children without parental care, UNICEF supported efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and pre-emptively scale up and strengthen the capacity of family-based care and social protection systems, which are critical to enhance family resilience and prevent the unnecessary separation of children from their families.  A critical first step for UNICEF was to advocate for the…, Children on the move, Children on the move are especially vulnerable and face heightened protection risks, particularly in the context of COVID-19. They may be denied entry at borders, subjected to immigration detention, refused the right to seek asylum, excluded from access to essential services or returned without due process considerations. COVID-19 caused…, Advancing the Learning Agenda, A mother and her two children sitting in the shade of their house doing schoolwork A girl wearing a baseball hat and a UNICEF t-shirt looking at her mobile phone Children wearing masks, sitting outside at a table covered in Lego UNICEF continued to support efforts to improve the availability and quality of child protection data and evidence, with…, Looking forward, A group of young children lying on the grass together Two children walking into the distance with their arms around each other Two children in the air as they jump over a skipping rope Prior to the pandemic, UNICEF already had an ambitious agenda for organizational change in support of accelerated action for children – with a focus on prevention,…, With thanks, This report highlights the achievements made possible by the generous contributions of softly earmarked thematic funding received from various partners. UNICEF would like to express it's sincere appreciation for these contributions. June 2021, Global Annual Results Report 2020 GOAL AREA 3 Every child is protected from violence and exploitation Cover image: UNICEF/ UNI333569/Dejongh Children at the playground of their school in Toumodi-Sakassou, Cte dIvoire. UNICEF has been working with countries like Cte dIvoire to support childrens safe return to school, as well as supporting the…

UNICEF is committed to tackling all forms of sexual misconduct and sexual violence. The United Nations distinguishes between sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual violence against children. Sexual exploitation refers to any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for…, Sexual exploitation and abuse, In every context in which UNICEF operates, whether in emergency or non-emergency settings, people trust development and humanitarian workers to assist and protect them. The vast majority do so with professionalism and integrity. However, some aid workers abuse their position of power through the sexual exploitation and abuse of those who depend on…, UNICEF’s programming to protect children, UNICEF’s Protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse Child Protection programming helps prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse. We’re on the ground in more than 150 countries and territories, providing a first line of response for children at risk. UNICEF aims to provide timely assistance to every victim of sexual…, UNICEF’s work with implementing partners, UNICEF works together with our implementing partners to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse in their operations. UNICEF requires that all civil-society-organization implementing partners are assessed on their capacity to tackle sexual exploitation and abuse and meet specific core standards. One way that UNICEF supports…, UNICEF’s work within the United Nations system, UNICEF actively participates in joint United Nations (UN) efforts to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse. Find more information on these efforts led by the UN Special Coordinator on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse here , and those led by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee here ., UNICEF’s public accountability with respect to allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, UNICEF publicly posts information about reported cases of sexual exploitation and abuse on the UN system-wide tracker, whether the allegations involve personnel or partners implementing its programmes .  Annually, UNICEF’s Executive Director certifies that all known UNICEF cases of sexual exploitation and abuse have been or are being addressed.…, Sexual harassment, UNICEF considers sexual harassment to be a form of misconduct, and takes any reports of sexual harassment seriously. Sexual harassment may occur in the workplace or in connection with work, for example during official travel or social functions related to work. While typically involving a pattern of conduct, sexual harassment may take the form of…, Report sexual exploitation or abuse, sexual harassment or other types of misconduct, If you become aware of credible information regarding a possible situation of sexual exploitation or abuse, sexual harassment or other types of misconduct, please report it directly or through your head of office to UNICEF’s Office of Internal Audit and Investigations  by emailing integrity1@unicef.org . If you are uncertain that the situation is…, Learn more

NEW YORK, 30 September 2020 – “UNICEF is appalled that people who identify as UNICEF workers have reportedly committed abuse against vulnerable women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “Our team on the ground is doing a thorough assessment of the facts and will be joined by additional colleagues to seek further detailed information about…

Goal Area 3 aims to ensure that every girl and boy is protected from violence and exploitation in keeping with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and supports the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goals 5, 8 and 16. Two years into implementation of the UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2018–2021, Goal…, The year 2019 commemorated the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and celebrated the progress since that time. The last two decades saw a rise in birth registration levels globally with about 3 in 4 children under age 5 registered today compared to 6 in 10 around 2000. The prevalence of female…, Results, In 2019, UNICEF worked in over 150 countries in its efforts to protect children against violence and exploitation and reached 17 per cent more children who experienced violence with health, social work or justice and law enforcement services, compared to 2018, with a roughly even split between girls and boys. Progress rate by output area -…, Strengthening child protection systems to reduce violence against children, Graphic representing affected population 2.3 million mothers, fathers and caregivers reached through parenting programmes in 79 countries (+10%) Graphic representing violence against children 2.7 million children who have experienced violence reached by services in 115 countries (+17%) "Violence against children (VAC) encompasses all forms of…, Accelerating national progress to reduce all forms of violence, In 2019, UNICEF intensified efforts to scale up evidence-based violence prevention interventions and institutionalize response services to child victims of violence in 141 countries, a 5 per cent increase from the countries reporting in 2018. A panel from the Comic book that won UNICEF's global comic book contest Rizka Comic superhero Cipta to…, Strengthening the social service workforce, There is a moderate yet steady increase in the number of countries reporting progress to strengthen their Social Service Workforce (SSW), increasing from 114 countries reporting in 2017 to 137 countries in 2019. UNICEF stepped up support to governments to institutionalize workforce development, including notably in Afghanistan, Argentina, Bhutan,…, Strengthening information management systems, UNICEF recognizes integrated Information Management Systems (IMS) as a critical component of strengthening child protection systems. UNICEF and partners manage three types of protection-related data: case management, incident monitoring and programme monitoring. These data are interrelated and essential to the success of any child protection…, Child protection in humanitarian action, Child protection in humanitarian action achieved breakthrough results in 2019 on many critical fronts. UNICEF provided protective services to millions of children affected by armed conflict, natural disasters and public health emergencies in 74 humanitarian situations. As a leading voice for children, adolescents, parents and caregivers, UNICEF…, Mental health and psychosocial support, UNICEF took major steps to prioritize Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) for children, adolescents, mothers, fathers and caregivers. UNICEF provided more than 3.7 million children and adolescents in 60 humanitarian situations with community-based MHPSS, up 3 per cent compared to 2018. The organization increasingly prioritizes…, Monitoring grave violations, UNICEF engages with United Nations partners to monitor and report grave violations of children’s rights in armed conflict including killing and maiming, recruitment and use, abduction and sexual violence. In 2019, over 25,000 grave violations were verified across 20 countries through the monitoring and reporting mechanism co-chaired by UNICEF.…, Reintegrating children associated with armed forces and armed groups, Reintegration is a long-term process intended to enable children to transition from armed forces and groups to their families and communities. Across 19 countries, UNICEF provided a range of care and services including specialized family tracing, psychosocial support, recreational activities, and economic reintegration, education and life-skills…, Mine action and explosive weapons, Children represent more than half the civilian casualties of landmines and explosive remnants of war, a 12 per cent rise from 2016. To reverse casualty trends and strengthen victim assistance, UNICEF scaled up its mine action programming to 23 countries (from 20 in 2018), including in Afghanistan, Islamic Republic of Iran and Libya in 2019. In all…, Gender-based violence in emergencies, Across 46 countries, UNICEF supported 3.3 million women, girls and boys with Gender- Based Violence in Emergencies (GBViE) response, prevention and risk mitigation activities, reaching over 150 per cent more people than in 2018., Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, Children and women are disproportionately at risk for sexual abuse and exploitation (SEA) in humanitarian settings. In 2019, UNICEF doubled the organization’s protection efforts to reach 32 countries across six regions, up from 16 countries in 2018.   In 2019, 8.9 million children and adults could access a UNICEF-supported SEA reporting channel, a…, Unaccompanied and separated children, In 2019, UNICEF and partners registered around 94,500 unaccompanied and separated children in humanitarian situations across 50 countries. Overall, 58 per cent of unaccompanied and separated children targeted and registered for UNICEF support were reunited with their families or received family-based care or appropriate alternative services.  , Children on the move, UNICEF reached nearly 1.75 million ‘children on the move’ in 61 countries with protective services and supports national authorities to mainstream policy and programming into national child protection systems strengthening frameworks. UNICEF supported 33 countries to end the immigration detention of children in law, policy and practice. UNICEF…, Delivery of protection services to reduce harmful practices, Despite the significant decline in recent years in the prevalence of child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM), the overall numbers remain high. To eliminate harmful practices by 2030 (SDG 5.3), progress needs to be dramatically accelerated. A girl in a girl guides uniform in Malyasia holding a sign saying "let girls be girls, not brides…, Child marriage, In 2019, UNICEF and partners supported 58 countries across all regions to implement rights-based interventions aimed at ending child marriage. While child marriage occurs among both boys and girls, the prevalence is about six times higher among girls. Partnering with boys and men in gender equality is crucial to ending child marriage. Girls’…, Female Genital Mutilation, UNICEF contributed to important successes to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in 21 countries where FGM programmes are being implemented. UNICEF is working towards strengthening interventions such as building girls’ and women’s agency to claim their rights, advancing gender equality by engaging men and boys, improving community…, Promoting access to justice for children, Ma July Moe (2-week) at the lunching ceremony on mobile birth and death registration event at Royal Hintha Hotel, Mawlamyaing. 21.7 million Birth registrations for children between 0 –17 A young man using a sewing machine 278,000 Children have benefited from access to justice interventions in 65 countries Strengthening justice systems for children…, Improving birth registration, The right of a child to be registered and have a legal identity is enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF supported 80 countries – with over half (51 per cent) located in Eastern and Southern Africa and West and Central Africa – to strengthen their civil registration and vital statistics systems (CRVS). The year 2019 saw a…, Children without parental care, The year 2019 was a watershed moment for care reform globally. The landmark United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution on children without parental care provided the unprecedented opportunity to advance the care reform agenda globally, including within the disabilities community. UNICEF supported 106 countries across all regions to drive…, Looking forward, The year 2020 marks the  seventy-forth anniversary of UNICEF; normally an occasion to celebrate all the progress in child rights to date. Instead, the year started with the worst global health crisis the world has encountered in modern history with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.   The devastating socio-economic impacts of the pandemic will…, Global Annual Results Report 2019 GOAL AREA 3 Every child is protected from violence and exploitation Cover image: UNICEF/UNI218101/Htet Ma July Moe (2 weeks) at a launching ceremony on mobile birth and death registration services in Mawlamyine District, Mon State, Myanmar. In 2019, the first ever electronic birth registration took place in Mon…

Violence against children takes many forms. It can be physical, emotional or sexual. It happens in all countries and any setting – in a child's home, community, school and online. In some parts of the world, violent discipline is socially accepted and common. And for many girls and boys, violence comes at the hands of the people they trust – their…, Explore topics, In Honduras, a fourteen-year-old boy sits at home as his mother places her palm on his back in comfort. Violence in schools, Every child has the right to go to school and learn, free from fear. Learn more, A 16-year-old girl in Madagascar browses the Internet. Violence online, Every child must be protected from violence, exploitation and abuse on the internet. Learn more, An 8-year-old girl clutches a stuffed toy while sitting on the arm of a bench at a shelter in her home country.. Sexual violence, Sexual violence knows no boundaries. It occurs in every country, across all parts of society. Learn more, Key facts, Some 15 million adolescent girls aged 15–19 have experienced forced sex in their lifetime. About 10% of the world's children are not legally protected from corporal punishment. Over 1 in 3 students aged 13–15 experience bullying worldwide. Approximately 1 in 4 children under the age of 5 – some 176 million – live with a mother who is a victim of…, How does violence against children affect sustainable development?, Violence against children significantly undermines the social and economic development of communities and nations. The global economic costs resulting from physical, psychological and sexual violence against children are estimated to be as high as $7 trillion – roughly 8 per cent of global GDP annually. Increased public expenditure on child…, Resources, UNICEF Humanitarian Practice: COVID-19 Technical Guidance End Violence against Children Homepage Advocacy Brief: Violence Against Children Advocacy Brief: Child Online Protection Action to End Violence against Children in Schools: Review of Programme Interventions Illustrating Actions to Address Violence against Children in and around Schools …, UNICEF’s response, Children from Burudi use tablets to learn in a refugee camp in Rwanda in 2019. In Mahama Camp, Rwanda, UNICEF and partners provide tablet-based learning sessions for Burundian refugee children in 2019. Each week, over 500 children participate in these sessions to learn about gender equality, violence prevention, and how to report violence through…