Violence against children widely accepted: U.N. study

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Violence against children is widely accepted as normal around the world, and at least 106 countries still allow physical punishment in schools, a U.N. report on the issue showed on Thursday.

The report, issued by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's office, found that 147 countries have not banned the punishment of children in other care settings and that up to 275 million children witness domestic violence annually.

"Legalized violence against children in one context risks tolerance of violence against children generally," said Louise Arbour, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a statement released with the report.

"Violence against children is a violation of their human rights, a disturbing reality of our societies," she said.

The report said World Health Organization data estimated that in 2002 some 150 million girls and 73 million boys were subjected to forced sexual intercourse and other forms of violence involving touch, while 53,000 were killed.

"Many people, even children, accept violence as an inevitable part of life," said the 45-page study by independent expert Paulo Sergio Pinheiro.

International Labor Organization data showed that in 2004 there were 218 million child laborers of whom 126 million did hazardous work, the report said. WHO estimates up to 140 million women and girls have undergone genital mutilation, it said.

"I urge states to prohibit all forms of violence against children, in all settings, including all corporal punishment, harmful traditional practices -- such as early and forced marriages, female genital mutilation and so-called honor crimes -- sexual violence and torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment," Pinheiro said.

The report also calls for the appointment of a U.N. special representative to act as a high profile global advocate to promote prevention and elimination of all violence against children.