Save the children latest report indicates 91 per cent of Afghan children face violence

Save the children latest report indicates 91 per cent of Afghan children face violence

KABUL (SW): Save the Children in Afghanistan, in its latest report, says 91 per cent of children face violence, including sexual, psychological and physical violence.

According to the “Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (KAP) Surveys in Child Protection” report of Save the Children, 18 per cent of children and 66 per cent of adults reported sexual violence, while 17 per cent of children and 69 per cent of adults reported sexual harassment.

According to the report, the use of children in the military ranks has doubled in comparison with 2014; 116 children (115 boys and 1 girl). Of this figure, only 48 were corroborated; 13 by the security forces, 20 by the Taliban and 15 by the irresponsible armed groups.

Based on the report only 9 per cent of Afghan children had not experienced violence. From the remaining percentage, 21 per cent from 1 to 3 types, 16 per cent from 4 to 6 types, 10 per cent from 7 to 9 types, 13 per cent from 10 to 15 types, 9 per cent from 16 to 20 types, from 20 to 21 have experienced 30 types of violence.

The Save the Children report noted that the rate of violence in cities is higher than in rural areas.

It has also been said that 50 per cent of children experienced at least one type of mental violence at home, including insult, humiliation, and given warnings of being thrown out of home by families.

A noteworthy point in the report is that 11 per cent of the children were forced to watch pornographic films and naked images; 7 per cent of them were forced to watch private parts of adults, 7 per cent were victims of sexual abuse, and 4.7 per cent of the children were sexually assaulted while watching pornographic material.

The children who were victims of sexual violence by their families and relatives include 9 per cent by the father, 3.9 per cent by the mother, 15 per cent by other family members and 22 per cent by relatives.

The children who were sexually abused figures are bigger outside families. 48 per cent of child victims of sexual violence said that they were abused by powerful people, 5 per cent by police, 32 per cent by armed groups, 4.4 per cent by religious leaders and 6 per cent by community leaders.

38 per cent of children believed that girls and boys sexual abuse is at the same level. 29 per cent say girls were more likely to be sexually abused and 7 per cent considered boys more vulnerable to sexual abuse.

Safiullah Amarkhail, a consultant for Save the Children in Afghanistan, said the amount of sexual and physical violence against children is alarming. He urged the authorities to work as soon as possible to prevent violence against children.

Maryam Zurmati, director at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, said that the Ministry has plans to eliminate violence against children.

39 per cent of children in the survey said that they had seen family members exchange harsh words and 31 per cent said that family members, especially the head of the family, had engaged in physical violence in front of them.

Also, 32 per cent of the children claimed that they were punished for a crime they did not commit.

The report by Save the Children in Afghanistan indicated that 44 per cent of the students were abused by teachers, 14 per cent by senior students, 7 by school administrators and 6 per cent by class representatives.

Of the number of supervisors participating in the survey, 47 per cent were women, 52 per cent were children under 15 years and 37 per cent were 15 to 17 years old.

Save the Children in Afghanistan, called on all national and international institutions to work towards the elimination of violence against children in Afghanistan.

The survey was conducted in Kabul, Balkh, Nangarhar, Saripul and Jawzjan provinces for more than a year.

ENDS