46% of Kenyan women sexually abused

[Guest guest]

46% of Kenyan women sexually abused

By Emmanuel Kola ( Friday, June 16, 2006)

As Kenya marks the day of the African Child , United Nations

Children's Fund (UNICEF) joins the rest of the world to draw

attention to the impact of violence against children and what needs

to be done to protect their lives.

UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa Per Engebak

says 46% of women in Kenya experience sexual violence in childhood

while one out of four girls aged between 12 and 24 years lose their

virginity by force.

Engebak says fears of reprisal and willingness by the families of

the victims to reach settlements have deepened a culture of silence

and enabled the problem to go undetected and unreported.

The United Nations Children's Agency says an estimated three million

women and girls undergo female genital mutilation every year in

Africa.

UNICEF says children are also subjected to physical, emotional and

sexual abuse in homes, schools, and residential institutions across

the African continent.

This year's Day of the African Child takes on added significance in

light of the United Nations' Study on Violence against Children,

which is due to be presented to the UN General Assembly in October

2006.

The study will give a detailed global picture and make

recommendations on improving laws, policies and programs to prevent

and respond to violence against children.

http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=37188

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[Guest guest]

46% of Kenyan women sexually abused

By Emmanuel Kola ( Friday, June 16, 2006)

As Kenya marks the day of the African Child , United Nations

Children's Fund (UNICEF) joins the rest of the world to draw

attention to the impact of violence against children and what needs

to be done to protect their lives.

UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa Per Engebak

says 46% of women in Kenya experience sexual violence in childhood

while one out of four girls aged between 12 and 24 years lose their

virginity by force.

Engebak says fears of reprisal and willingness by the families of

the victims to reach settlements have deepened a culture of silence

and enabled the problem to go undetected and unreported.

The United Nations Children's Agency says an estimated three million

women and girls undergo female genital mutilation every year in

Africa.

UNICEF says children are also subjected to physical, emotional and

sexual abuse in homes, schools, and residential institutions across

the African continent.

This year's Day of the African Child takes on added significance in

light of the United Nations' Study on Violence against Children,

which is due to be presented to the UN General Assembly in October

2006.

The study will give a detailed global picture and make

recommendations on improving laws, policies and programs to prevent

and respond to violence against children.

http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=37188

**************