Colombia, Among Countries Where One in Five Minors Suffers Online Sexual Abuse
UNICEF has just published the report “Through Children’s Eyes: How Digital Technologies Enable Child Sexual Abuse,” which estimates that 20 million children between the ages of 12 and 17 (almost one in five) suffered at least one form of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in a single year across 21 countries around the world. The […]
According to UNICEF, nearly 20 million children aged 12 to 17 across 21 countries have been subjected to technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in a single year. The report "Through Children's Eyes: How Digital Technologies Enable Child Sexual Abuse" combines the testimonies of minors with extensive survey data to shed light on this widespread issue.
Catherine Russell, UNICEF's executive director, emphasized the emotional distress and mental anguish experienced by these children, who often suffer in silence due to a lack of resources and support. In most cases, the abuse occurred on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and WhatsApp, as well as in online games.
Children were often approached by people they knew, such as friends, romantic partners, or relatives, challenging the notion that online abuse is primarily perpetrated by strangers. The report highlights the profound emotional consequences of such experiences, including fear, shame, confusion, and isolation, with some children struggling to understand what happened or where to seek help.
The consequences of technology-facilitated sexual abuse can be severe, with children facing higher risks of suicidal thoughts, self-harm, anxiety, and even suicide. In Mexico, North Macedonia, and Pakistan, the risk of suicidal thoughts was more than eight times higher among abused children, while the risk of self-harm was more than seven times higher in Pakistan.
Despite the severity of the issue, only a small fraction of cases are reported to authorities, with more than 40% of incidents going unreported. The report calls for urgent action from governments, technology companies, and other stakeholders to safeguard children in the digital age. Recommendations include making digital platforms safer by design, strengthening legislation and accountability, establishing trustworthyp reporting and support systems, and preventing minors from bearing the responsibility for self-protection.
Written by urgent.news from Colombia One's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
