Towards an Africa Free from Violence Against Children: VIRTUAL HIGH-LEVEL CONFERENCE

The scale of violence against children (VAC) in Africa is unacceptable. VAC is on the increase and African children continue to suffer widespread physical, psychological and sexual violence, neglect and child labour. 

At least 60 percent of boys and 51 percent of girls in Africa experience physical abuse. In some regions, more than eight out of ten children in the 1–14 years age group suffer violent discipline every month. Up to 40 percent of adolescent girls in some African countries experience sexual violence before the age of 15.

New research from the African Partnership to End Violence against Children (APEVAC), an initiative of the African Child Policy Forum (ACPF), shows that VAC is prevalent at all levels of African society, and it is made worse by increasing urbanisation, armed conflict, displacement, child trafficking, child labour, humanitarian crises and gender-based violence. Online child sexual abuse and exploitation is another growing area of concern.

Faced with this disturbing evidence, APEVAC, supported by ACPF, is organising a high-level online conference on July 22 to enhance political will and commitment to end violence against children in Africa. The event is part of the Together to #ENDViolence solutions summit series organised by the Global Partnership to End Violence against Children.