Summary: The following key findings have been prepared by Members of the NGO Advisory Panel in light of the launch of the Study. These form part of a letter submitted to governments in order as part of the Advisory Panel's recommendations for action to follow up on the launch of the Study.
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The Pinheiro study finds that shocking levels of violence affect the lives of children on all parts of the globe. Among the report’s findings:
- Between 20 and 65 percent of school-age children report having been verbally or physically bullied in the past 30 days. Corporal punishment such as beating and caning is standard practice in schools in a large number of countries, and is often responsible for school drop-out;
- 126 million children are involved in hazardous work, often enduring beatings, humiliation and sexual violence by their employers;
- Institutionalized children—whether in orphanages or detention facilities—are at particular risk of violence from the staff responsible for their care, including torture, beatings, isolation, restraints, rape, and harassment;
- As many as 150 million girls and 73 million boys worldwide are raped or subject to sexual violence each year, usually by someone in their family circle. Between 133 and 275 million children annually are estimated to witness domestic violence;
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Violence in the family in the form of harsh punishment is common in both industrialized and developing countries. Children in all regions have reported the physical and psychological hurt they suffer at the hands of their parents and caregivers;
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Over 50,000 children a year die as a result of homicide; 1-2 million are treated in hospitals for violence-related injuries;
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The majority of violent acts against children are perpetrated by people who are part of their lives: parents, teachers, schoolmates, employers, and caregivers. In only sixteen States has all violence against children been prohibited, leaving the vast majority of the world’s child population without adequate legal protections from violence;
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Violence against children exacts extraordinary costs to society, and is linked to lifelong social and health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder; depression; antisocial and aggressive behaviors; substance abuse; lung, heart, and liver disease; impaired academic and work performance; problematic peer relations; and greater involvement with the criminal justice system.
The Pinheiro study was conducted through an intensive consultation process including nine regional consultations involving governments, civil society, and children; thematic consultations with relevant experts; field visits; questionnaire responses by 133 governments; and submissions from hundreds of organizations around the world.
Our organisations—humanitarian, human rights, and professional associations— were extensively involved in the study as part of an international NGO Advisory Panel of experts (including children and youth) which provided input and consulted regularly with the independent expert throughout the process. One of the unique strengths of the study was the unprecedented and substantive participation of children in all regions, providing their views on violence, its impact on their lives, and developing their recommendations for international action.
Owner: NGO Advisory Panel
