UNICEF warns of widespread violence against children in Europe and Central Asia
Children exposed to physical or psychological violence are at greater risk of mental health disorders, poor academic performance, and future aggression, perpetuating cycles of abuse across generations, says the report
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan (MNTV) — Nearly one in three children in Europe and Central Asia experience physical punishment at home, and up to two in three face psychological aggression, according to a new UNICEF report released on October 13.
The report, titled “Where We Live and Learn: Violence Against Children in Europe and Central Asia,” describes physical discipline — such as smacking, pinching, or beating — and psychological aggression, including threats, humiliation, and verbal abuse, as the most common forms of violence against children in the region.
Despite this, more than 90 percent of parents acknowledge that such practices are unnecessary. UNICEF attributes their persistence to limited awareness of their long-term harm and a lack of positive parenting skills.
“Violence against children is often normalized, but its effects are profound and lasting,” the report warns.
Children exposed to physical or psychological violence are at greater risk of mental health disorders, poor academic performance, and future aggression, perpetuating cycles of abuse across generations.
While 38 of 55 countries in the region have banned corporal punishment in all settings, UNICEF stressed that legislation alone is not enough. It called for parenting programs and family support services to help caregivers adopt non-violent discipline methods.
The report also highlights other forms of abuse: between 1 and 14 percent of women across 19 EU countries said they experienced sexual violence before age 15, while 11 percent of children reported being bullied at school, 15 percent faced cyberbullying, and 10 percent engaged in physical fights.
UNICEF estimates the global economic cost of violence against children at USD $7 trillion annually, roughly 8 percent of global GDP.
The agency praised the Barnahus model — a child-centered, multidisciplinary approach for survivors of violence — as an example of effective coordination between health, social, and justice systems.
UNICEF urged governments to ban all forms of corporal punishment, invest in parenting and family support programs, ensure access to child-friendly justice and education systems and improve data collection and monitoring.
Ending violence against children, UNICEF emphasized, is a legal and moral obligation under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and a key target of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The organization warned, however, that the region remains off track to meet this global commitment.
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