Findings from the Nigeria Violence Against Children Survey were released in Abuja last week Thursday, September 10, unveiling the first nationally representative data on the prevalence of sexual, physical, and emotional violence among girls and boys in the country.

”The data produced by this groundbreaking survey are vital to support government policy, planning and budgeting for effective child protection services, and to inform the implementation of evidence-based actions for violence prevention and response across a range of sectors,” said United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative (SRSG) Santos Pais.

Nigeria is the first country in the West African sub-region and the ninth country in the world to conduct this comprehensive survey, responding to the recommendations from the 2006 UN Study on Violence against Children to implement national data collection and research to inform policy actions to end violence against children.

The national survey highlights that approximately 6 out of every 10 Nigerian children under the age of 18 years experience some form of physical, emotional and sexual violence in their childhood. 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.

The majority of children never tell anyone about their experience and less than 5% of children who experience violence ever receive the support they need to recover.

“I welcome efforts by the Nigerian government to end the invisibility of violence, challenge its social acceptance, and enhance protection for those at risk through the launch of the Year of Action to End Violence Against Children. Developing a robust response to the findings of the survey is crucial to ensure the data is effectively used to end the scourge of violence that affects so many Nigerian children. I remain strongly committed to supporting efforts by the government and its partners to implement the Year of Action,” highlighted the Special Representative.

SRSG Santos Pais will visit Nigeria in January 2016 and hold discussions with senior government officials, religious leaders and other key stakeholders in support of the implementation of the national response to the survey findings.

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