UNICEF: 80% of Filipino youths suffer violence

M ANILA -- A survey conducted by UNICEF and the Philippine government has found a high prevalence of violence against Filipino children, with eight out of 10 suffering some form of physical or psychological abuse.

UNICEF and the children. With Filipino Philippine Council children sought for the Welfare of after by pedophiles Children said Tuesday all over the world, that their first and impoverished nationwide survey families tempted to of children and earn from it, online youth aged 13-24 child sexual abuse also found one in has become a big five respondents had business in the been sexually viol country, she said. at ed . The interviews of

More than 60 percent 3,866 children and of the cases of youth were conducted physical violence last year in happened at home, randomly sampled with slightly more villages in 17 regions victims among boys of the country. (81.5 percent) than A survey of that size girls (78.4 percent), typically has a margin the survey found. of error of less

UNICEF representative than 3 percentage Lotta points. Sylwander said the The 13 types of Philippines seems to violence during have become "some childhood identified kind of a center of in the survey included internet abuse" of physical or psychological neglect, witnessing physical or psychological violence at home, overall physical or psychological violence, severe physical or psychological violence, severe sexual violence, peer violence or bullying, cyber violence and collective viol en ce.

Three out of five, or 66.3 percent, of respondents experienced some form of physical violence, with more than half of them receiving corporal punishment at home. More than 30 percent received more severe punishment like slapping, kicking or burning.

"This underscores the widely spread practice of acceptance of corporal punishment," the report said.

Officials and the report said poverty, a culture of silence and fear of reporting, and ineffective implementation of laws protecting children are among the drivers of violence against children. They called for a whole-government approach, addressing the problem at home and at the community level, and banning corporal punishment.

"The study has shown that we really need to be more serious in addressing violence against children which is happening all over the country, from the places that are supposedly safe — the homes to the schools to the streets and the rest of the community," said Social Welfare Secretary Judy Tagui w al o. ( AP)