More than one in four children worldwide—around 610 million—live with mothers who experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse by a partner in the past year, making violence part of their daily lives, UNICEF warned on Tuesday.

Exposure is highest in Oceania, sub-Saharan Africa, and Central and Southern Asia, underscoring deep regional inequalities. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stressed that “millions of women and children are living in homes where violence is a regular reality,” adding that women’s safety is essential to children’s well-being.

The findings accompany updated UN estimates showing that over one in 10 girls and women aged 15+ experienced intimate partner violence in the last year, while one in three women globally face physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.

UNICEF’s new regional breakdown shows:

Oceania: 51% (3 million children)

Sub-Saharan Africa: 32% (187 million)

Central & Southern Asia: 29% (201 million)

Northern Africa & Western Asia: 26% (52 million)

Eastern & South-Eastern Asia: 21% (105 million)

Latin America & Caribbean: 19% (35 million)

Europe & North America: 13% (28 million)

Australia & New Zealand: 5% (400,000)

UNICEF warns that children in violent homes face long-term emotional and developmental harm, even if they are not directly abused. Witnessing violence can erode trust, cause trauma, and increase the likelihood of repeating or experiencing violence in adulthood.

The agency is urging governments to adopt stronger, integrated strategies to prevent violence against women and children, expand survivor-centered services, invest in prevention programs, and support women- and girl-led organizations while challenging harmful social norms.