Statistiques : 15 % de nos adolescents victimes de violences sexuelles avant 18 ans
At a regional workshop on child marriage and sexual violence in West and Central Africa, alarming figures were presented. Fatou Ndour Kane, gender focal point at the Directorate of Maternal and Child Health (DSME), revealed that 5.4% of young people began their sexual lives before the age of 15, according to the latest Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS 2023). The meeting brought together experts and stakeholders under the auspices of the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and the Union for African Population Studies (UAPS).
For Fatou Ndour Kane, this is a worrying indicator which, beyond its statistical significance, reveals profound vulnerabilities among adolescents in the sub-region. She emphasized the human significance of this data, reminding us that behind these percentages lie shattered lives, shortened childhoods, and trajectories compromised by early marriage and abuse. The statistics also show that nearly 15% of adolescent girls are victims of sexual violence before the age of 18, with an almost identical incidence in rural (15%) and urban (15.2%) areas. This situation exposes young people to serious risks, including early pregnancies, reproductive health complications, school dropout, and lasting psychological trauma.
In response to this situation, the Senegalese authorities are deploying strengthened institutional responses. Speaking at the official opening, the Director of Family Affairs, Dr. Rokhaya Diakhaté, reiterated the State's commitment through several concrete measures. She specifically mentioned the implementation of the national action plan to combat gender-based violence, as well as the National Agenda for Girls. Senegal now has holistic support centers for victims, located in Kaolack, Fatick, and Kédougou, in addition to the national center in Dakar. Furthermore, there is the toll-free number 116, an essential listening and referral service for victims.
The Director of Family Affairs also emphasized the crucial importance of evidence produced by research institutions for effectively reorienting national strategies. For stakeholders, these efforts must be accompanied by collective mobilization. Poverty, social norms, and gender inequalities remain key factors fueling these phenomena.
The call is therefore made to strengthen prevention, education and community involvement in order to guarantee adolescents a safer and more equitable future.
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