Study Reveals Over 30% of Girls in India Face Sexual Violence Before 18

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Mumbai: A shocking new study published in The Lancet journal reveals that over 30 per cent of girls and 13 per cent of boys in India experienced sexual violence before turning 18 years old in 2023. This marks a disturbing trend in the prevalence of sexual violence against children, with South Asia, particularly India, showing the highest rates for girls globally.

The research, which examined the prevalence of sexual violence against children across more than 200 countries from 1990 to 2023, revealed that India’s rate of sexual violence against girls stands at 30.8 per cent. The study’s authors also highlighted that approximately one in five girls and one in seven boys worldwide will experience sexual violence before their 18th birthday.

Sub-Saharan Africa was found to have the highest rates of sexual violence among boys, with figures ranging from 8 per cent in Zimbabwe to 28 per cent in Côte d’Ivoire. However, the figures for India raise critical concerns regarding the vulnerability of young girls in the region.

Sexual violence against children is a critical public health and human rights issue that has far-reaching consequences, the report emphasizes. The traumatic effects of sexual abuse often lead to long-term health issues, including an increased risk of mental health conditions. Experts stress that addressing these issues is vital for the wellbeing of children and the overall future of society.

The study, led by researchers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, US, is one of the first to provide a global estimate of the prevalence of sexual violence against children. The research revealed that, globally, 18.9 per cent of females and 14.8 per cent of males experienced sexual violence before reaching adulthood.

The report also found that nearly 70 per cent of adults worldwide had their first exposure to sexual violence as teens or young adults, underscoring the urgent need for effective prevention measures and systemic support for survivors. The study’s authors called for improved global data collection, expanded surveys, and robust surveillance programs to tackle the issue.

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