The Welfare and Social Services Ministry reported on Tuesday a 24% increase from 2019 to 2020 in children and adolescents treated by authorities after being sexually abused in Israel.
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In 2020, when many people were homebound due to COVID-imposed lockdowns, social welfare authorities treated 2,839 minors who reported being sexually abused, against 2,285 in 2019, according to the ministry.
The ministry's data indicates that 10% of the victims were between 3 and 6 years old, 44% between 7 and 12 years old, and 46% between 13 and 17 years old.
Until the age of puberty, the proportion of boys and girls among the victims is similar, while most adolescent victims were girls.
Overall, 60% of the victims were girls.
The ministry also reported that 2,440 adults were treated last year after being victims of sexual abuse. Crisis centers nationwide treated 1,981 women, 278 men, and 181 people who identify with neither.
Of the suspected offenders, 52% were minors and 44% were adults. The identity of the remaining 4% is unknown.
About half of the abuse cases are believed to have been committed by family members, while some victims were abused by more than one.
Experts say the actual number of sexual abuse cases is much higher, as many go unreported.
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The report comes days after Tel Aviv's SlutWalk and amid a flurry of sexual assault incidents being exposed.
In March, the SafeUp app was launched in Israel, aimed at helping women strengthen the safety and security of their community via online networking.
This article was first published by i24NEWS.
