UK researchers help measure global scale of sexual violence against children

A new study involving UK researchers has found that one in five women and one in six men worldwide experienced sexual violence as children.

The researchers estimate that in 2024 alone, more than 130 million children globally (72.6 million girls and 60.9 million boys) experienced sexual violence. This excludes online or technology-facilitated cases, previously estimated by Childlight to affect around 300 million children annually.

The study represents the largest evidence base ever assembled on sexual violence against children and is published today in the prestigious journal Nature Human Behaviour. It reveals critical data for understanding the magnitude of sexual violence against children, monitoring global trends, and informing evidence-based policies and practices to protect children from sexual violence and its devastating consequences.

It was conducted by researchers at the Childlight Global Child Safety Institute, hosted by University of Edinburgh, and researchers at Georgia State University, Together for Girls and 12 additional organisations, including University of Edinburgh’s School of Social and Political Science.

“Evidence at this scale leaves no room for doubt that child sexual violence is one of the most significant and preventable threats facing children worldwide, with lifelong consequences for health, wellbeing and opportunity,” said Debi Fry, Global Director of Data at Childlight and Professor of International Child Protection Research at the University of Edinburgh. “It’s clear that governments must view this as a global health emergency and invest in the same level of coordinated prevention, data systems and accountability that the world has mobilized to confront other major threats to human health.”

Childlight supports World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for child sexual exploitation and abuse to be treated with a prevention-focused, public health approach, underpinned by data, legislation, regulation and education to prevent harm before it starts.

To arrive at their findings, the researchers examined 1,412 studies across 147 countries and used UNICEF’s definition of sexual violence against children, which includes deliberate, unwanted sexual acts against a child that results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, pain or psychological suffering. The study also examined regional variations, the prevalence of contact sexual violence, and experiences of sexual violence in the past year.

“This study represents the largest evidence base ever assembled on sexual violence against children,” said Xiangming Fang, Research Associate Professor in the Georgia State University School of Public Health. “Our findings highlight the alarming global burden of sexual violence against children and the urgent need for evidence-based prevention strategies and programs to safeguard children worldwide.”

The researchers noted that although the number of studies that measure the prevalence of sexual violence against children has grown significantly over the past two decades, few have systematically reviewed and synthesized this body of literature to produce global prevalence estimates.

“In most regions, prevalence is higher among girls than boys,” Fang said. “However, across much of Asia, as well as in Southern Europe and South America, these differences are less pronounced. More research is needed to better understand the factors driving these regional patterns.”

To illustrate how data can guide efforts to reduce sexual violence against children, the researchers highlight the role that Kenya’s Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys played in reducing the prevalence of sexual violence against girls from 36% in 2010 to 25% in 2019.

The 2010 survey was followed by a National Response Plan that was spearheaded by the government and supported by philanthropy, international non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations.

Importantly, the National Response Plan coordinated action among multiple sectors, including health, education, justice and social services. Monitoring and evaluation research identified key factors that contributed to the reductions – such as a strengthened legal framework, increased service provider capacity and improved information systems – as well as areas of continuing need.

“We now know the scale of this problem. We also know what works to prevent childhood sexual violence and promote healing and justice for survivors,” said Daniela Ligiero, the CEO and President of Together for Girls.

“Now is the time to act. We call on governments to make strong pledges at this year’s Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Manila. We ask policy makers, civil society, advocates, and communities to implement programs and policies that keep children and adolescents safe in their homes, schools, and communities, using WHO’s INSPIRE Framework, the Safe Futures Hub, and the Out of the Shadows Index as starting points.”

The researchers said their findings highlight the alarming global burden of sexual violence against children and the urgent need for evidence-based, multi-sectoral prevention strategies and intervention programs to safeguard children worldwide.