Freetown — Unicef Sierra Leone Joins a Global Unicef Initiative Calling for Ending Violence Against Children.violence Against Children Is All Too Often Unseen, Unheard and Underreported, Said Unicef Today, Announcing an Initiative That Urges Ordinary Citizens, Lawmakers and Governments to Speak Out More Forcefully to Fight Violence Against Children.

In Sierra Leone, 82% of children experience violent disciplinary measures at home or even in school and 73% of Sierra Leoneans tolerate domestic violence. Life is especially hard for girls with a high number of rape and sexual assault cases being reported in most districts of the country.

Girls largely do not have control over their sexuality with young girls as young as nine years bearing children, in most cases a result of sexual violence. 40% of maternal mortality in the country is a result of teenage pregnancies with 34 % of all pregnancies occurring amongst teenage girls. Prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting is at 88%, with local research showing numerous complications: 78% result in excessive bleeding, 68% in delayed healing, and 45 % in fever (especially amongst children).

Violence inflicts not only physical wounds but leaves mental scars on children. It affects their physical and mental health, compromises their ability to learn and socialize and undermines their development.

Several cultural practices in the country directly or indirectly provide an enabling environment for violence against children. 22% of children do not live with their biological parents which makes them more vulnerable towards abuse and exploitation. Child marriage, though illegal, is still widely practiced. In 2010, over 50% of girls got married before they were 18. With the bride having to leave her home, she faces a higher risk of becoming a victim of violence and abuse. Gender roles, that often do not allow the girls to make their own decisions, expose them to additional risks.

Protecting children is at the heart of UNICEF's mandate. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child specifies that every child everywhere has the right to be protected from all forms of violence.