Media Center

Bangkok, 2 June 2015– Child abuse and violence is costing countries in East Asia and the Pacific around US $209 billion/year, equivalent to 2 percent of the region's GDP, according to newly published research commissioned by UNICEF. This is the first ever costing of child maltreatment in the region and was conducted by a team of global experts using a proven methodology previously employed in Australia and the US.

“We all know that violence against children must stop because it is morally wrong. This research shows that inaction about violence results in serious economic costs to countries and communities,” said UNICEF Regional Director Daniel Toole. “Governments need to take urgent action to address violence against children, both for the sake of the children themselves and for the wellbeing of future generations.”

The social and economic impact of child maltreatment include an added burden on already stretched health care systems, disability and death, and increased levels of violence and criminality. It is difficult for children who experience violence and abuse to grow up to be productive members of society, and their countries also risk losing the potential benefits to their communities these children might otherwise provide.

The research follows previous studies on the prevalence of child maltreatment. It looks at the different types of maltreatment, and the cost to economies of each. According to the study, the costs associated with emotional abuse are US $65.9 billion, those associated with physical abuse are $39.6 billion, sexual abuse costs about $39.9 billion, neglect costs $32.4 billion, witnessing domestic violence costs $31 billion and death from maltreatment costs an estimated $500 million.

The study notes that:

• In lower middle income countries, 35 percent of males have experienced physical abuse and 22 percent of females have experienced sexual abuse
• In high income countries, 42 percent of females have experienced emotional abuse and 32 percent of males have witnessed domestic violence
• 25 percent of mental disorders among males in low income countries are attributable to physical abuse during childhood
• 31 percent of mental disorders among females in lower middle income countries are attributable to sexual abuse during childhood
• The percentage of GDP lost due to child maltreatment is highest in upper middle income countries, at 3.45%, with the largest part (1.26%) due to emotional abuse.

Similar research in China[1], partially supported by UNICEF, found that the health consequences of physical abuse of children costs China an estimated 0.84% of its gross domestic product – i.e. 50 billion United States dollars – in 2010. The corresponding losses attributable to emotional and sexual abuse in childhood were 0.47% and 0.39% of the gross domestic product, respectively. This is likely an underestimate as many other serious effects of child maltreatment, such as poor school performance and subsequent outcomes, erratic employment patterns, early parenting, unstable relationships, higher divorce rates, higher policing, court and prison costs due to criminal behaviour, increased levels of adult dependency, and high levels of health-care utilization were not included because of a lack of relevant studies. Moreover, there are no available estimates of the costs to the police and child protection and welfare services of child maltreatment.

All governments in the region have signed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which commits them to protect children from violence, abuse and maltreatment. More needs to be done to meet these commitments, including greater investment in social services.

“All children have the right to live free from violence, which harms their physical and mental growth, and inhibits the growth of their society and economies,” Daniel Toole said. “Violence against children often takes place behind closed doors but it is preventable when people come together and say loudly and clearly that this is not acceptable.”

About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do.  Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.  For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org

Visit UNICEF China website: www.unicef.cn              

Follow us: Sina Weibohttp://weibo.com/unicefchina Tecent Weibo http://t.qq.com/unicef

Wechat: unicefchina

For further information, please contact:
Christopher de Bono, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific, Bangkok, +66 02 3569406 (office) +66 84 427 7431 (mobile), cdebono@unicef.org
Andrew Brown, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific, Bangkok, +66 02 3569406 (office) + 66 84 3347506 (mobile), ambrown@unicef.org
Shantha Bloemen, UNICEF China, +8610 85312610, sbloemen@unicef.orgor Liu Li, UNICEF China, +8610 85312612, liliu@unicef.org