Where we live and learn: a new UNICEF report presents the latest data on violence against children i

The new UNICEF report “Where we live and learn” was launched at a high level regional conference, held in Bucharest on 13-14 October, and organised by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity of Romania, in partnership with UNICEF and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary – General on Violence Against Children. It shows that violence is widespread in children’s homes, schools and communities as well as online across Europe and Central Asia. It is most often perpetrated by someone in the circle of trust of the child, including family members and friends, and less commonly by professionals and strangers.  

Data shows that around 1 in 3 children is physically punished by parents or caregivers and 2 in 3 children experience psychological aggression. More than 90 % of parents believe physical punishment and psychological aggression are unnecessary, but many are still using them, often because they are not equipped to regulate their own emotions and are unaware of the long-term damaging impact of violent discipline on their children’s development and behavior.  

Violence against children is often part of a wider cycle of domestic, gender-based and community violence. And it may be passed from one generation to the next, with children who experience it more likely to see it as ‘normal’ and becoming adult victims – or perpetrators. Violent discipline, for example, increases children’s likelihood of bullying others, engaging in fights, and using aggression to resolve conflict.  Children are more likely to be punished physically or psychologically in families experiencing intimate partner violence.  

Sexual violence remains hidden, and survivors often stay silent. Across 19 EU countries, between 1 and 14 per cent of women report having been sexually abused as children – mostly by someone they knew.   Actual rates are likely much higher. Children with disabilities, in institutional care, or affected by migration and displacement are often less visible to support systems and more vulnerable to abuse. Help-seeking behaviors and incident reporting among women who experienced sexual violence as children also vary between countries and sub-regions. Of 22 EU countries with available data, Cyprus and Germany reported the highest levels, with 70 per cent of survivors reporting the incident or seeking help informally. The percentage for Bulgaria is 59 % and the lowest levels were observed in Portugal with 27 per cent, Finland with 33 per cent and Slovenia with 39 per cent.  

Bullying and violence between peers are common in schools and online. Around 11 per cent of children report being bullied, 10 per cent engage in fights, and 15 per cent experience cyberbullying. Bullying perpetration is significantly higher in Bulgaria than the regional average 24% of 15-year-old boys and 9% of girls report bullying others. UNICEF global research across 12 countries shows that 20% of children faced online sexual exploitation and abuse in the last year. EUROPOL warns that offenders are using AI to generate new child sexual abuse material ‘at scale’. 

During the conference, 30 countries made concrete pledges and reported on their progress including Bulgaria. The Bulgarian delegation, consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Ministry of Justice and the State Agency for Child Protection, was led by Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Ms. Natalia Efremova. The country  shared the advancement with the adoption of the Action Plan for the implementation of the National Programme for Prevention of Violence and Child Abuse for 2025 – 2026, the development of a National Information System, the initiatives to raise awareness on violence and mechanisms for support such as the National Child Help Line 116 111, the new app developed by the State Agency for Child Protection “CyberKidz” and specialized services including the ones where the model of Child Advocacy Centre “Zona ZaKrila” is scaled up to provide comprehensive support to children victims of violence and their families under one roof.  

As part of the conference, there were also 6 thematic panels where countries and experts shared concrete solutions to address online violence, sexual abuse, reform justice and care systems, support parents and ensure violence free schools. UNICEF Representative for Bulgaria, Ms. Christina de Bruin, moderated the session on online protection which also included sharing of experience of countries in the region, key data and EU initiatives to prevent and combat child sexual abuse.

Apart from the European Parliament proposals to strengthen EU legislation to fight child sexual abuse, the EC is working towards the development of an EU Action Plan against cyberbullying recognizing the alarming data that around 1 in 6 adolescents report being victims of cyberbullying while 1 in 8 admit to perpetrating it. The Council therefore encourages EU countries to take action to protect and support children living in an environment where violence against women or domestic violence is present. 

The key recommendations of the UNICEF report and the high-level Ministerial regional conference are: 

1. Ensure a protective environment for all children through key interventions such as:

• Strengthening parenting and family support
• Investing in safe and inclusive schools
• Ensuring online protection is embedded in national policies, programmes and services.

2. Respond and prevent recurrence through:

• Capacitated social service workforce
• Justice systems reforms
• Availability of multi-disciplinary/inter-agency specialized services for victims, collaboration and comprehensive case management.

3. Leave no child behind through:

• Accelerating childcare reforms, early intervention and deinstitutionalization
• Provision of support to most vulnerable children. 

For additional information, please refer to Ending violence against children in Europe and Central Asia | UNICEF Europe and Central Asia  or contact Boryana Gidikova, Communications Officer, at [email protected]