United Nations, November 18 (Prensa Latina) The World Day for the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence against Children today reminds us of the risks faced by minors in emergency situations.
The United Nations notes that the worsening climate crisis and the spread of conflicts around the world highlight the need to protect particularly vulnerable groups such as women and children in these contexts.
In addition, the United Nations recognizes that children, particularly girls, are at increased risk of engaging in forced sexual relationships or becoming victims of sexual exploitation, abuse and violence, both online and offline.
The situation is more common during armed conflicts and in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Disasters, the lack of measures or measures to address the root causes, such as the increase in inequalities, the exacerbation of poverty and structural discrimination for interrelated reasons, further exacerbate the situations in which children are exposed to these scourges.
Minor victims and survivors of these crimes could suffer long-lasting detrimental effects on their physical, mental and sexual health and development, the agency warns at this time.
These traumas at a young age can even constitute torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment.
For many victims and survivors, child abuse impacts physical and mental health and well-being with lifelong consequences.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes the need to protect the dignity of children and their right to a life free from violence.
This is positioned as a priority of the international pathway aimed at ending exploitation, abuse, human trafficking, torture and all forms of violence against children, as well as eliminating all harmful practices such as child marriage. , early and forced and female genital mutilation.
The United Nations estimates that approximately 120 million women under the age of 20 have experienced various forms of non-consensual sexual relationships.
Although global estimates of sexual violence against children are not available, data from 24 predominantly high- and middle-income countries suggest that the prevalence ranges from eight to 31 percent among girls and from three to 17 percent among girls of age.
One in four children under the age of five now lives with a mother who is a victim of gender-based violence at the hands of her partner.
For this reason, on this International Day from 2022, the United Nations reaffirms the need to eliminate and prevent all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse and violence against minors, and to promote dignity and rights.