The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) launched a new campaign to combat violence against children. It is accompanied by a video showing the emotional with the actor and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Liam Neeson, in which he shows viewers the various manifestations of the situation "invisible" violence.

"This 15-year-old girl was gang-raped," - he says, and the camera shows an abandoned apartment. "This teacher beats the boy for what he was talking in class, and other students are watching this," - says he next scene.

"If you have not witnessed violence against children, it does not mean they are not there - said Neeson. - Make the invisible visible. Help us to stop violence against children! Join us! Declare openly about their position! "

The new initiative, UNICEF has arisen in the wake of public outrage that swept the world after a series of horrific crimes against children. In October 2012 it was quite an attack on a 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai in Pakistan, in December of the same year, the world shook with murder in the town of Newtown, Conn., USA, 26 students and teachers. In 2013, became public egregious cases of gang rape of girls in India and South Africa.

"Violence against children takes place everywhere, in every country, in every culture. Wherever and whenever children are not harmed, our outrage and anger about to reach everyone. We have to make the invisible visible - said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.

The basic idea of UNICEF initiative "To put an end to violence against children" - to make people around the world realize the seriousness of the problem and part of a global, national or local movement to eradicate it.

Accurate statistics on the prevalence of violence against children is not. But even the limited information shocking. According to WHO, an estimated 150 million girls and 73 million boys under the age of 18 years were subjected to sexual violence and exploitation. According to the conclusions contained in the report of the ILO in 2005, each year 1.2 million children are victims of trafficking.

Children's Fund, recalls that violence leaves not only physical injuries, but also causes the child a deep psychological trauma.

UN News Centre