18 November: World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence

18 November: World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence

In 2022, the United Nations officially recognised 18 November as the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence. This milestone was the result of international advocacy efforts led by survivors of such violence, child rights advocates, the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio and the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. As the world marks this day, it is vital to reflect on why it matters, how sexual violence affects children, and the ways it intersects with harmful practices such as child marriage.

The Story Behind 18 November

On 7 November 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/77/8, designating 18 November as a day dedicated to preventing and responding to child sexual exploitation, abuse, and violence. The resolution expresses grave concern that children, especially girls, face heightened risks of “experiencing forced sex, sexual exploitation, and abuse both online and offline, particularly during armed conflicts”. It highlights that shame, stigma, and fear prevent many survivors from disclosing abuse or seeking justice.

The resolution reaffirms key international instruments that protect children’s rights, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also draws a clear link between violence against children and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which consists of various goals related to ending all forms of violence against children.

Importantly, the resolution calls on all governments, international organisations, civil society organizations, faith-based actors, academic institutions, and the private sector to commemorate 18 November each year. It encourages awareness-raising, accountability for perpetrators, quality education, survivor-centred justice, destigmatization, and collective action to protect children and uphold their dignity.

Understanding Sexual Violence Against Children

UNICEF defines sexual violence against children as “any deliberate, unwanted and non-essential act of a sexual nature, either completed or attempted, that is perpetrated against a child, including for exploitative purposes, and that results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, pain or psychological suffering.” Global estimates reveal the magnitude of the crisis. Global estimates suggest that 1 in 5 women and girls, and 1 in 7 boys and men alive today, were subjected to sexual violence in childhood.

Sexual violence against children is a human rights violation and impedes children’s rights to dignity, development, and protection. Such violence can have profound and multidimensional consequences on children, including physical, psychological, emotional, and developmental impacts, ranging from injury, trauma, depression, anxiety, and self-harming thoughts and behaviours, among many others. 

Sexual Violence and Child Marriage

Sexual violence can be both a cause and a consequence of child marriage. In certain contexts, child marriage is incorrectly perceived by families as a “protective measure” against sexual violence, particularly in times of humanitarian crises and emergencies. In other cases, girls who are pregnant due to sexual violence may be forced to marry the individuals who assaulted them to prevent social stigma resulting from unmarried pregnancies.

Child marriage, which itself is recognized internationally as a form of gender-based violence, often leads to sexual violence against children. Girls and women married in childhood face a heightened vulnerability to physical, emotional, and sexual violence, including intimate partner violence (IPV). The likelihood of experiencing physical or sexual IPV is 1.5 times higher for young women who married as children compared to those who married as adults. Various factors contribute to this elevated risk, including gender norms, power imbalances, levels of poverty and education, limited autonomy, limited access to support systems, etc.

A Collective Call to Action

On this 18 November, the world is reminded that while sexual exploitation, abuse, and violence against children remain pervasive and devastating, it is not inevitable. 

Ending sexual violence against children requires coordinated and unified action from governments, communities, faith leaders, educators, civil society, and the global public. Achieving this calls for strong survivor-centred and rights-based approaches, enhancing awareness, improving and enforcing laws to prevent and respond to such violence, allocating adequate resources for their effective enforcement, and ensuring survivors can access justice, support, and healing.

As we mark this day, Child Marriage Free World has announced 100 Days of Action, a global effort that brings communities, institutions and individuals together to take practical steps that strengthen prevention and protection against child marriage. Over the coming weeks, CMFW will support learning, dialogue and public pledging in schools, faith spaces and community settings, helping to expand collective understanding of children’s rights and the harms linked to early marriage. Through this shared engagement, the campaign aims to reinforce ongoing work to keep children safe and to ensure they can grow and live free from violence.