United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) has said that approximately 6 out of every 10 Nigerian children under the age of 18 years making. About 60 percent suffers one form of physical, emotional or sexual violence.
In a statement issued to commemorate the Universal Children’s Day in Nigeria with the theme “Why fair matters” made available to newsmen in Kaduna by Media and External Relations Officer, UNICEF Kaduna Field Office Rabiu Musa laments that “There is a culture of silence around violence against children.”
The statement explained that, “a study conducted by the National Population Commission, with support from UNICEF and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), shows that The Nigeria Violence Against Children Survey found that one in two children experience physical violence; one in four girls and one in ten boys experience sexual violence; and one in six girls and one in five boys experience emotional violence.”
It further stated that the survey was prompted by the formal launch of the ‘Year of Action to End Violence Against Children in Nigeria’ by President Muhammadu Buhari on September 15, adding that “UNICEF is also highlighting the need to address the high rates of violence that millions of children in Nigeria are suffering.”
Jean Gough, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, was also quoted in the statement as saying “For many reasons, most children never speak up about it, and they don’t know where to go for help.
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