A worrying situation in sub-Saharan Africa

According to a UNICEF report published on October 10, 2024, more than 79 million women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa have been victims of rape and sexual assault. This region is one of the most affected by this violence in the world, with one in five women having suffered an assault or rape before reaching the age of 18.

Alarming global statistics

Globally, UNICEF estimates that 370 million girls and women have been victims of sexual violence. The report is the first to bring together both national and international data, spanning from 2010 to 2022. While these figures illustrate a worrying reality, the organization acknowledges that the statistics may be underestimated due to gaps in available data and under-reporting in many countries.

A call for collective responsibility

Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s executive director, expressed her concern about the global crisis. “Sexual violence against children is a stain on our moral conscience,” she said in a statement, calling for collective awareness to better protect children and women.

Conclusion

This report highlights the scale of sexual violence in sub-Saharan Africa and highlights that the problem is global in scope. UNICEF hopes that these revelations will help raise awareness and motivate governments to take more effective action to end this abuse and protect the most vulnerable populations.