PT7P3C1_EN: Violence against children

Violence against children Violence against children takes many forms. It can be physical, emotional or sexual. It happens in all countries and in any setting. For many children, violence comes at the hands of the people they trust (UNICEF, n.d.). (©UNICEF/UN0220714/Babajanyan)

Migrant and displaced children Millions of children are on the move because of conflict, poverty or climate change. Others leave in the hope of finding a better life. On their way, a lot of those children encounter danger, detention and discrimination (UNICEF, n.d.). (©Sam Mann)

Sexual exploitation and abuse by aid workers 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. (©UNICEF/UN0229230/Herwig)

Mental health and psychosocial support Children exposed to conflict, natural disasters and other humanitarian crises can suffer severe psychological and social consequences. Mental health and psychosocial support for children affected by emergencies are essential (UNICEF, n.d.). (©UNICEF/UN0229877/Naftalin Sylvie Waridi)

Gender-based violence Gender-based violence is the most prevalent yet least visible violation of human rights worldwide. An individual can be harmed physically, sexually, mentally or economically due to socially attributed power imbalances between males and females (UNICEF, n.d.). (©Sneha Sivarajan)

Birth registration Every child has the right to a legal identity, but a quarter of children born today do not “officially” exist. These children are deprived of birth certificates – their first legal proof of identity – simply because their parents cannot afford it, cannot reach it, or face some other barrier to learning about and accessing registration services (UNICEF, n.d.). (©UNICEF/UN0233097/Htet)

Female genital mutilation (FGM) Despite being internationally recognised as a human rights violation, FGM has been performed on at least 200 million girls and women across the globe. Numerous factors contribute to the prevalence of the practice. It can lead to serious health complications and even death (UNICEF, n.d.). (©UNICEF / Olivier Asselin)

Justice for Children Across the world, millions of children interact with justice systems every year. They could be victims or witnesses to a crime. They could be alleged, accused or recognised as having broken the law. They could need care or safety or be seeking to protect their rights. But justice systems do not always fulfil the promise of fairness. (©UNICEF/UN052682/Romenzi)

Child labour Millions of families worldwide are affected by economic hardship – and in some places, it comes at the price of a child’s physical safety. Child labour affects almost 1 in 10 children worldwide, nearly half of whom work in dangerous conditions (UNICEF, n.d.). (© UNICEF/UN0263808/Lister)

Child marriage The practice of child marriage robs girls of their childhood and threatens their well-being. Girls who marry before 18 are also more likely to experience domestic violence and drop out of school (UNICEF, n.d.). (©UN Photo/Armin Hari)

Family separation during crisis Some children are separated from their families during the chaos of a humanitarian emergency like violent conflicts or natural disasters. Those who receive early support in tracing their relatives are more likely to be reunified (UNICEF, n.d.). (©UNICEF/UN0247699/Arcos)

Children in alternative care There are an estimated 2.7 million children living in residential care worldwide and the actual number is likely to be much higher. Institutionalisation puts children at risk of physical, emotional, and social harm (UNICEF, n.d.). (©UNICEF/UNI134968/Dormino)

Explosive weapons and remnants of war Explosive weapons kill and injure thousands of children each year, during and after armed conflict, with physical injury, psychological trauma or even death as a consequence. But explosive weapons also inflict severe harm on children indirectly; they destroy vital infrastructures – like water pipelines, sanitation facilities, hospitals and schools (UNICEF, n.d.). (©UNICEF/UN061807/Brown)

Children recruited by armed forces Thousands of children are recruited and used in armed conflicts across the world. Often referred to as “child soldiers,” these boys and girls suffer extensive forms of exploitation and abuse that are not fully captured by that term (UNICEF, n.d.). (©UNICEF/UN0202141/Rich)