Violence Against Girls, Boys and Women in Southern Africa: A Statistical Profile
Violence against girls, boys and women is a grave violation of their fundamental rights and an issue of concern worldwide. It is an afront to their dignity, safety and well-being with long-lasting, often intergenerational, consequences. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are committed to addressing this urgent issue and working towards a world in which every child and woman can live free from violence. This publication represents a joint effort by SADC and UNICEF to compile and present the latest data from national surveys to document the prevalence of violence against children and women in the SADC region. The findings shed light on the nature and magnitude of the problem as well as the factors that contribute to its continuation. The results reveal that violence against children and women in the region is pervasive and persistent, affecting millions of lives. This violence takes many forms, including physical, sexual and emotional violence along with neglect and exploitation. The report also shows that such violence is often hidden, underreported and perpetuated by harmful social norms, gender inequality, poverty, conflict and other structural factors. It makes apparent that beyond the so-called three ‘C’s’ – COVID, climate change and conflict – violence against children and women represents a clear threat to national economies, mental health and educational outcomes.
