‘Manosphere’ warnings as rates of family and sexual violence against Australian children rise sharply

A new study published in the medical journal JAMA Network Open found rates of violence against Australian children are rising. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

The sexual assault of Australian children has accelerated sharply since the pandemic, surprising researchers who expected rates to have fallen but instead found attacks on boys had risen 15.7%.

Researchers expected rates to have dropped in line with other countries around the world and warn the troubling findings show an urgent need to prevent the suffering of children.