05. December 2006
Africa – Sex abuse of girls
A survey of the World Health Organisation - WHO in nine African countries shows that Namibia has the highest incidence of child abuse. More than one in five women reported being sexually abused before the age of 15. In another survey amongst Malawian schoolgirls half of them said that male teacher or classmates had already had touched them in a sexual manner without their permission.
Statistics show that the number of abused children is rising continuously. Poverty plays a big role in this issue. Due to the hard life people are facing, parents often are not able to keep their children safe. A legacy of violent, oppressed societies and cultural mores that allow offenders to escape criminal punishment hamper the fight against child abuse. It happens quite often that the offenders marry their victims or compensate their families.
The countries try their best to raise awareness on this issue. The fact that a lot of children get HIV infected after being abused and examples like Zimbabwe, where since 1998 estimated 2.000 children have died of AIDS at least brings about that child abuse is not a taboo in the society any more states a spokesperson of UNICEF.
Sources: The New York Times, Unicef