In the midst of the many triggers that increase child mortality rates around the world such as wars, diseases, malnutrition, starvation and terrorism, a new concern raises its profile — violence against children in countries not at war. According to a report by Unicef, the United Nations’ children’s agency, about 75 per cent of the estimated 345 violent deaths that occur daily around the world happen in countries at peace.
In Brazil for instance, the number of children under five dying of preventable diseases has climbed down, but the cases of adolescents being killed due to violence of various kinds has reached 15,000. This points to a severe degree of degradation in the social fabric, which is a grim precursor to a highly unstable future for our children. Societies privileged enough to not be caught up in political conflicts must realise that the mere lack of political violence is not a guarantee for children’s empowerment. There are alternative breeding grounds in poverty, lack of education, dysfunctional family backgrounds and erosion of value systems that spawn other types of violence against children.
Across the world, in homes, schools and communities, millions of children are vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse on a daily basis due to the aforementioned factors. It is the duty of every country, therefore, to ensure that it does not fail to punish the individuals who perpetrate these acts of brutality against children. Anything less than that means the world is denying every child his or her fundamental right to a life of basic safety and protection.
