However, one in six girls (16 per cent) than boys (six per cent) experienced sexual violence, such as coerced or forced sex and unwanted sexual touching. CS Chelugui noted that there is a decline in prevalence of childhood violence, but expressed concern that sexual violence experienced by girls aged 13 to 17 years has increased from 2010 to 2019. MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMSThe CS added that children who encounter physical, sexual and emotional violence suffer from mental health problems. The survey showed that children who had experienced any form of violence experienced mental distress than those who had not (about 12 percent). “Emotional violence, while its effects are not as visible as other forms of violence, was found to be particularly damaging to mental health of children and youth,” said the CS.

Source: Daily Nation July 20, 2020 06:00 UTC