23 October 2014 – Every five minutes, somewhere across the globe, a child is killed by violence. This is one of the shocking findings of the recent report published by Unicef UK.
Millions of children are in danger, facing violence, disease, hunger, or the chaos of war and disaster. That’s why Unicef UK has launched their new campaign with the publication of the report ‘Children in Danger: Act to End Violence against Children’.
According to the groundbreaking report, millions of young people under the age of 20 are unsafe in their community, schools, and even homes. This finding is, however, not just limited to war or conflict zones. Fourteen per cent of Canadian high school students are bullied online or through text messages.
Violence and inequality
In addition, children who are marginalised by income, class, ethnicity, religion, gender, or disability are much more likely to live their lives in danger. This explains why two thirds of child murders take place in lower middle of low income countries.
But violence against children causes more than just direct physical and emotional damage. Studies of children who were exposed to domestic violence show that a third becomes aggressive themselves, and one in five act out or have difficulties making friendships.
Additionally, violence can feed further violence, trapping victims in a cycle of violence that can echo down through generations. Studies on child abuse indicate that one in three child abusers were themselves abused during childhood, and abused boys are 17 per cent more likely to be violent to their future partner.
Until every child is safe
Unicef now set out six strategies for ending this violence against children. These strategies include supporting parents, caregivers and families; as well as changing attitudes and social norms, and implementing laws and policies that protect children.
Related Stories
The fight against poverty must leave no one behind
Day of the girl child: awareness is not enough
The Brussels based United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe - UNRIC provides information on UN activities to the countries of the region. It also provides liaison with institutions of the European Union in the field of information. Its outreach activities extend to all segments of society and joint campaigns, projects and events are organized with partners including the EU, governments, the media, NGOs, schools and local authorities.
United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC Brussels)
Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 155, Block C2,7th and 8th floor, Brussels 1040, Belgium
Tel.: +32 2 788 8484 / Fax: 32 2 788 8485