This report is an attempt to get information about the prevalence of three aspects of the problem of violence against children – sexual abuse, domestic violence and corporal punishment. It is also an attempt to listen to children’s own perceptions and to continue to explore ways to address violence that include those not yet considered.

This report gives children an opportunity to express themselves through samples of some of their quotes in a format that is acceptable to policy makers and politicians.

The sample is of 1314 children, 671 girls and 639 boys. Originally the survey was of 13 and 14 year olds; but 100, 12 year olds (7.6%) and 119, 15 year olds (9.1%) were also included (as they showed up for the survey and we didn’t want to turn them away or waste the information they had).

A disturbingly high percentage (63.5%) of girls and 64.0% of boys say they know children who have been raped. 21.4% of girls and 23.5% of boys say they have witnessed the rape of a child by an adult. 13.5% of girls and 15.7% of boys say they have been sexually touched on the genitals before 9 years old and 13.5% of girls and 18.9% of boys say they have been sexually touched on the genitals after 9 years old.

Children had a good understanding of the consequences of rape and the importance of primarily dealing severely with the perpetrator.

Half of boys (50.5%) and 36.4% of girls admitted to having been beaten by their parents. 82.4% of girls and 81.1% of boys say they have seen other children being beaten by their parents.

Click here to read the full report.