Study: 6.1% of Children and Teenagers Worldwide Raped

Study: 6.1% of Children and Teenagers Worldwide Raped

Image: APA/dpa/Sven Braun

 

A new meta-study conducted by researchers at the University of Klagenfurt in Austria’s state of Carinthia has revealed that 6.1% of children and teenagers worldwide have reported experiencing rape or “forced sexual intercourse,” with the figures being higher for girls.

Among those, 1.3% said the abuse had occurred in the year leading up to the survey.

The research team, led by Antonio Piolanti and Heather Foran, analysed data from 165 studies across 80 countries, involving nearly 960,000 children and adolescents aged between 10 and 19. However, Austrian data was not included in the study. The findings were published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Shocking Statistics on Sexual Violence

Alongside the 6.1% who reported being victims of rape or “forced sexual intercourse,” the study found that 11.4% of the children and adolescents surveyed had already experienced sexual harassment, and 8.7% had faced sexual violence in some form.

“The results of our study not only reveal shockingly high numbers of children suffering from sexual violence, but also highlight areas where we know too little. We urgently need more data on regions that have been under-researched,” study lead author Piolanti said in a statement from the University of Klagenfurt.

Regional Disparities and Data Gaps

Despite significant gaps in data collection, the study revealed notable regional differences in the prevalence of sexual violence. It also pointed to gender disparities. Globally, 6.8% of girls reported having experienced forced sexual intercourse at some point in their lives, compared to 3.3% of boys.

Central African nations, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, reported particularly high rates of abuse, with figures ranging from 15 to 20%. In countries such as China, the US and Papua New Guinea, rates ranged from 10 to 15%. In Europe, where fewer studies met the research criteria, Switzerland and Sweden reported figures between 5 and 10%.

Limited Data on Abuse of Boys

The study found far less data on the sexual abuse of boys. In Sweden, the US and Brazil, 3 to 5% of boys reported experiencing attempted or completed rape, while figures in Switzerland ranged from 1 to 3%. In China, the figures were higher, ranging from 5 to 10%. Piolanti noted that sexual violence against boys has received much less attention, stating, “Substantially high rates of abuse of boys” clearly show that “we need to take a closer look here as well.”

Inadequate Enforcement of Laws

The researchers also found that laws to combat sexual violence against children are often inadequately enforced in many countries. “However, it is important to emphasise that this violence can be prevented,” Piolanti added. While national surveys on the issue have increased in recent years, much remains unknown, particularly regarding the abuse of boys.

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