Luanda - An Angolan delegation led by the Minister of Social Action, Family and Woman Promotion, Ana Paula do Sacramento Neto, takes part in the Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence against Children being held in Bogota (Colombia), ANGOP has learnt.

According to a press release, the two-day event running from November 7 and 8 is a crucial opportunity to intensify efforts to put an end to violence and build a future in which all children grow up safely.

According to the statement, the latest global figures show that every four minutes, somewhere in the world, a child is killed by an act of violence, around 90 million minors have been victims of sexual violence and 650 million girls and women (1 in 5) were subjected to sexual violence as a child.

The note also points out that in fragile contexts girls face an even greater risk, with a prevalence of rape and sexual assault in childhood of just over 1 in 4.

According to the report, around 50 million adolescent girls aged between 15 and 19 (1 in 6) had been victims of physical or sexual violence by their husbands or partners in the last year.

As for boys and men, 410 to 530 million were victims of sexual violence in childhood, including 240 to 310 million (around 1 in 11) who were raped or sexually assaulted.

The document also points out that 1.6 billion children (2 out of 3) are regularly subjected to violent punishment at home and more than two thirds are subjected to both physical punishment and psychological aggression.

Against this backdrop, UNICEF calls for action in three key areas, namely universal access to paternity and maternity support program that promote nurturing care, universal provision of safe and supportive school environments, as well as specific response and support services for all children who need them.ANM/MCN/DAN/AMP