Terre des Hommes: crimes against minors in Italy have increased by 43% in 10 years

Crimes committed against minors in Italy in 2025 mark a new record: 7,272 victims, with a clear female prevalence. Compared to the previous year, the growth is approximately 1% with 68 more victims, but the trend over the last 10 years is clearly growing, with an increase of 43% since 2015, equal to 2,192 more victims. The data, processed by the Criminal Analysis Service of the Central Criminal Police Directorate, were released by the Terre des Hommes Foundation.

The data

The most frequent crime is that of domestic abuse with 3,008 victims, 41.4% of the total. This is followed by sexual violence (881 victims) and aggravated sexual violence (664), which together reach 1,545 victims. The third crime with the most victims is the abandonment of minors or incompetent people, with 637. Together these items bring together 5,190 victims: 71.4% of the total. Over seven out of ten. The data are published in the indifesa Dossier "The condition of girls and boys in the world" 2026, presented at the Anci headquarters, in view of the International Day of the Girl Child which occurs on 11 October. During the meeting, the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Anci and the Terre des Hommes Italia Foundation was also anticipated, to strengthen the role of Municipalities in the promotion of rights, in the prevention of violence and in the protection of girls, boys and adolescents.

Crimes against minors: 6 out of 10 are girls and boys

If we consider sexual crimes, 2,024 of the 2,451 victims were female, 82.6%. More than 8 out of 10. Girls represent 87% of victims of sexual violence and 86% of those of aggravated sexual violence. They are 79% in sexual acts with minors and 76% in minor prostitution. Again, 79% in possession of pornographic material, 71% in child pornography and 65% in corruption of minors.

Domestic abuse is the most widespread crime

In 2025, for the first time, victims exceeded 3,000: there were 3,008, compared to 2,975 in 2024 and 1,442 in 2015. An increase of 1% compared to the previous year and 109% compared to 2015. In ten years the victims have more than doubled. Even for this crime, a constant growth trend in female victims has emerged over the last 10 years, albeit less marked than for sexual crimes: in 2025, girls made up 54% of victims.

Child abandonment grows by 10% compared to 2024

The abandonment of minors or incapable people reaches 637, growing by 10% compared to 2024 and 56% compared to 2015. There are 311 cases of abduction of incapable minors, with increases of 12% and 23% respectively. The abuse of means of correction or discipline involves 360 victims: 4% more in the last year and 35% more than ten years before.