According to a Council of Europe survey, one in five minors has experienced some form of sexual violence, with 80 percent of these victims being girls. UNICEF Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has highlighted that the most alarming threat is the sexual exploitation and abuse occurring online.
“More than a third of young people in 30 countries reported being bullied online, and one in five skips school because of it. It has never been easier for perpetrators to reach their potential victims, share images, and encourage others to commit offenses,” said Nineta Popovic, Head of the Communications Department at UNICEF BiH.
She added that children can be victimized through the production, distribution, and consumption of abusive material, or they can be groomed for sexual exploitation, with abusers attempting to meet them in person or inviting them to engage in explicit content.
Popovic emphasized that in the digital world, anyone from any location can create and store sexually exploitative content. She noted that about 80 percent of children in 25 countries feel at risk of sexual abuse or exploitation online.
“Child sexual offenders can even live-stream sexual abuse from within their homes, directing the abuse of children on-demand from afar. What happens online reflects the reality that children face daily at home, in school, and in their broader community,” she stressed.
A study conducted in BiH by the Communications Regulatory Agency (CRA) of BiH and UNICEF found that over 50 percent of surveyed children have experienced unpleasant situations online, and more than 85 percent have not spoken to anyone about it, Popovic highlighted.
Additionally, every second child surveyed under the age of 11 reported having a profile on a social network.
UNICEF, according to Popovic, is working to make the Internet a safer place for children to learn, socialize, and express themselves.
“We collaborate with governments to advocate for necessary regulations and with technology companies to promote the use of appropriate safety measures on their platforms. We also support education ministries in teaching children digital literacy and online safety skills,” she added.
The Blue Phone, a helpline supported by UNICEF, received 13.251 calls last year. The most common reasons for seeking help were mental health issues (fear and anxiety, depression, suicide, and self-harm), abuse and violence, peer relationships, and family relations.
During the reporting period, a total of 44 reports of suspected violence were received, involving 69 individuals, including 22 girls, 17 boys, 26 women, and 4 men.
Popovic emphasizes that UNICEF in BiH advocates for such services to be available to every child 24/7 and stresses the need for much more work on preventing all forms of violence and strengthening families, N1 writes.
E.Dz.
