KEY FIGURES
Key figures on child abuse in the world:
- 86% of children aged 2 to 14 undergo corporal punishment and psychological pressure (source: UNICEF);
- 10% of children are abused in the developed countries (source: The Lancet 2009);
- 155,000 children under the age of 15 die from abuse every year (source: UNICEF);
- 34,000 children under the age of 15 are victims of homicide every year (source: WHO);
- Almost half of all children worldwide experience physical violence before the age of 8;
- More than 160 million children work, of which 85 million are exploited in hazardous work;
- In 2002, 200 million children were sexually abused.
Comparative analysis of child abuse in rich countries:
UNICEF estimates that almost 3500 children under the age of 15 die as a result of physical abuse and neglect every year in the industrialized world. The greatest risk is for the younger children.
A small group of countries – Spain, Greece, Italy, Ireland and Norway – seem to have an exceptionally low rate of infant mortality due to ill-treatment. Belgium, France, Hungary, New Zealand and the Czech Republic have mortality levels following child abuse four to six times higher. The United States, Mexico and Portugal have rates said to be fifteen times higher.
