‘Appalling levels’ of sexual attacks on children must be tackled

URGENT international action is needed to tackle “appalling levels” of rape and sexual violence against children, Plan International said today.

Plan and other child rights organizations say such abuse is detrimental to child survival and development and is calling for stronger national legislation and effective law enforcement to combat the scourge and high incidence of such violence across the world.

It is lobbying the United Nations’ Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva this week over the level of abuse against children in many forms from a deliberate tactic of war, to an all-too commonplace occurrence in schools and at home.

It is estimated that 150 million girls and 73 million boys have suffered from rape or other forms of sexual violence (Source: World Health Organization) worldwide.

Sexual violence leads to higher levels of HIV and AIDs, teenage pregnancy, physical and psychological trauma of victims. Studies have shown that threat of sexual violence can keep many girls particularly, out of school and increases drop-outs.

Plan’s research in West Africa has revealed that girls who are victims of sexual violence are more likely to be engaged in prostitution in later life.

Plan and partners are calling for a number of improved measures including: the HRC to prohibit all forms of sexual violence against children; stronger protection and child friendly reporting practices; investment in national resources such as education, preventative health care and social care and recovery and for better accountability and awareness among teachers, social workers, police, lawyers and judiciary.

Plan’s Representative in Geneva Anne-Sophie Lois said: “Now, it is time for action. Governments must take responsibility to prevent and respond to these appalling violations of children’s rights. What we need is better protection and enforcement if we are to stop failing these children.”

A young delegate, Abigail, aged 17, said in her address to the HRC that awareness-raising activities with her community and the police have reduced attacks: “Our youth group in Ghana is trying our best to combat violence against girls. Sexual abuse of girls at school and in the community is a real problem where I live and we girls are scared to become victims."

“We would like all governments and others to intensify law enforcement and to make sure that perpetrators are severely punished. Sensitization of the public should also continue. Girls are exposed to sexual abuse because of how boys and men – and we and our mothers – think about us,” she said.
 

Notes to Editors

Plan’s Learn Without Fear Campaign: a Global Campaign to End Violence in Schools, focuses on 66 Plan working countries and also aims to create global momentum for change that will improve the lives of millions of children beyond Plan’s direct reach. Underpinned by the Convention of the Rights of the Child and the Millennium Development Goals, the campaign has built its impetus created by the United Nations Secretary General’s Study on Violence against Children, published in 2006. It has also built on Plan’s expertise in quality education, school improvement and child protection. Visit plan-international.org/learnwithoutfear or contact campaigns@plan-international.org for more details.

VAC: Youth Advocacy to End Violence Against Children in West Africa is scheduled to run from 2008 to 2011 in 7 countries. It is co-ordinated by Plan West Africa & is a combined effort of Plan in Finland and Norway & Save the Children Sweden. It aims to end violence and abuse through a rights-based approach.

Plan is one of the oldest and largest international development agencies in the world. It operates in 48 developing countries across Africa, Asia, and the Americas and raises funds in 21 countries in Europe, the Americas, East Asia, and Oceania.

For more details and interview requests please contact:

In Geneva:
Anne-Sophie Lois, Plan representative
+ 41 79 791 60 99
anne-sophie.lois@plan-international.org

At Plan HQ:
Stuart Coles, Senior Press Officer
+44 7500 066 891
stuart.coles@plan-international.org