A total of 134 cases of violence against children were submitted to the gender ministry in December 2019.

This was revealed in the ministry’s monthly statistics, publicized on Tuesday. While 134 abuse cases against children were reported, the ministry received a total of 283 complaints within the month.

Among the child abuse cases reported, 66 were of negligence and 27 of sexual abuse. There were also 14 cases of physical abuse, 14 cases of emotional abuses, eight cases of witness to domestic abuse and four of exploitation.

In addition, the ministry received a total of 17 cases of child rights violations; this includes seven cases of refusal to vaccinate, six of refusal of access to education, two cases of denial of birth registration and one case of refusal of access to health care and forced child marriage, each.

There were also nine cases of ‘children in conflict with the law’, including one drug abuse case.

The gender ministry also received a total of 30 cases regarding family issues, which includes 20 custody cases, nine parenting issues and one of ‘child maintenance.’

44 cases of gender-based violence, or domestic violence, was submitted in December 2019. This includes two rape cases and 18 physical abuse cases.

There were also three cases of self-harming or suicidal behavior.

While the gender ministry has released its case statistics for last month, it faced scrutiny following a child rape case that emerged earlier this month with members of the public calling for the gender minister’s resignation.

The country was left in shock following news of a toddler, just a year and nine months old, being sexually assaulted by her grandfather and great grandfather.