In 2005 was estimated that 980,000 to 1,250,000 children – both boys and girls – are placed in a forced labour situation as a result of trafficking.

It has been estimated that 158 million children, aged 5-14, are engaged in labour, as of 2006.

Evidence indicates that more than 20 per cent of victims of all trafficking, both within countries and across borders, are children, while the 2006 US Department of State Annual Trafficking in Persons report notes that of the 600,000 – 800,000 trafficked across international border annually, 50% are children.

Worldwide, only 49 per cent of children of secondary school age attend secondary school. The others are either still enrolled in primary schools or are out of school.

Over 24,000 children under the age of five – about one every three seconds – die every day, mainly from preventable causes.

Children with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to physical violence and sexual, emotional and verbal abuse, and in some instances, the disability is itself caused by mistreatment.

A 2004 report found that in at least 65 countries around the world, boys and girls are recruited into Government military forces, either legally as volunteers, or illegally through force or deception.

In 2007, the estimated number of children under 18 who have lost one or both parents due to AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa reached 14.1 million. Globally, the estimated number is 17.5 million.

Between 500 million and 1.5 billion children are estimated to experience violence annually.