Indian girls face higher risk of sexual assault

The estimates remained stable since 1990, with slight variations across regions

- Rhythma Kaul

NEW DELHI: Nearly a third (30.8%) of women in India experienced sexual violence before the age of 18, far above the global average of 18.9%, estimates a new analysis published in The Lancet that highlights the extremely high prevalence of sexual violence against children (SVAC) across the globe.

One in seven men (14.8%) globally, and about 13.5% of Indian men also experienced sexual violence before they reached adulthood, according to the study.

"The study also identified significant region and country-level differences in the rate of sexual violence in under 18s, with the USA estimates being 27.5% of women and 16.1% of men; UK estimates being 24.4% of women and 16.5% of men, and estimates for India being 30.8% of women and 13.5% of men," read the paper.