Hundreds of millions of children and adolescents around the world face daily violence in their homes, schools, and elsewhere, which could have lifelong consequences, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday.

The violence includes being hit by family members, being bullied at school, as well as physical, emotional, and sexual violence, WHO said.

In most cases, violence occurs behind closed doors.

More than half of those aged two to 17, or more than a billion minors in total, experience violence each year, according to the WHO.

In three out of five children and adolescents, it is physical violence at home, with one in five girls and one in seven boys experiencing sexual violence.

Between a quarter and half of minors are affected by bullying, according to the information provided.

Only half of the children reportedly talk about their experiences of violence, and less than 10 per cent receive help.

Lifelong consequences could include depression and anxiety disorders or tobacco and drug use.

As a result, many children do not reach their learning potential in school.

Against the backdrop of being highly preventable, violence remains a horrific day-to-day reality for millions of children around the world, leaving scars that span generations,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general.

The UN’s first conference on violence against children opened in Bogota, Columbia, on Thursday.

At the two-day conference, more than 100 countries pledged to find ways to better support overwhelmed parents and introduce school programmes against bullying and for healthy social behaviour.

They also pledged to raise the minimum age for marriage.

Some countries wish to generally ban children from being hit at school or home.

(dpa/NAN)