UNICEF to collate data on violence against children in India

New Delhi: The UNICEF in collaboration with the the Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry may soon undertake a survey to collate data on violence against children in India.

"We are keen to carry out a survey and collate data on violence against children in India and have taken it up with the WCD ministry Secretary. We have taken the data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS,2005-06) but then there are certain challenges that are usually faced while doing such surveys.

"For example, like acceptance of violence and stigma associated with disclosing violence, inappropriateness of methods for data collection with children and also that relevant questions related to violence against children are not always included in national surveys. The data available in India is too limited to compare with or to interpret," said Joachim Theis, Chief of Child Protection, UNICEF.

UNICEF's global report "Hidden in plain sight: A statistical analysis of violence against children" which examines patterns of violence and attitudes and social norms across 190 countries was also launched.

According Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF India, Dora Giusti, data on corporal punishment, data concerning violence against boys, violence by peers, sexual exploitation, emotional abuse and neglect, social norms (acceptance) around corporal punishment of children and sexual abuse.

As per the WHO 2014, 2 in 100,00 children and adolescents were killed in India. With 9,500 victims (10 per cent of the global figure) in 2012, India is the third largest contributor of child homicide after Nigeria and Brazil. Apart from that one in 5 (21 per cent) adolescent girls have experienced physical violence since age 15 that is 12 million girls have experienced violence since age 15 (Census 2011 data).

4.5 per cent of girls aged 15-19 (overall-married or unmarried) have experienced forced sexual intercourse or another form of forced sexual act. UNICEF has already launched second phase of the 'END Violence against Children', a digital campaign in India.