David Beckham stars in a bold new short film illustrating the long-term impact physical and physiological abuse can have on children.
The 60-second film for UNICEF shows Beckham’s many tattoos transform and move to show scenes of violence against children in familiar settings including their homes, schools and online.
The football star shared the video on his Instagram, telling fans he chooses to mark his body with tattoos, but many children don’t have a choice about the scars they receive.
“Violence can mark children forever. I’ve met children with @unicef who have been affected by terrible violence and abuse and seen the long-lasting scars it can leave. I chose the marks on my body but millions of children bear marks they have not chosen. Please share this film to help #ENDviolence #foreverychild. It’s wrong. End it.”
He also spoke about his commitment to helping children live safely, through UNICEF.
“When I launched my 7 Fund with UNICEF, I made a commitment to do everything I can to make the world a safer place for children and to speak out on issues that are having a devastating impact on children’s lives,” Beckham said.
“One of those issues is violence. Every five minutes, somewhere in the world, a child dies from violence. Millions more are in danger of physical, emotional and sexual abuse that could destroy their childhoods forever.
“Last year I visited Cambodia with UNICEF where I met and listened to children tell me about terrible violence they have experienced. I was shocked by what I heard and I saw how violence can leave deep and lasting scars. No child should have to endure this. Yet in all corners of the world, in their homes, schools and on their streets, children are suffering similar violence.
“I hope this new project will draw attention to this urgent issue and inspire action. Violence against children is wrong and together we need to end it.”
Beckham, who has been a goodwill ambassador for the charity for the last 10 years, launched 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund in February 2015, making a commitment to helping the world’s most vulnerable children.
According to the latest available statistics:
• Every five minutes a child dies as a result of violence.
• Approximately one in 10 girls under the age of 20, or 120 million girls worldwide, have experienced sexual violence.
• Every year nearly a billion children – or 6 in 10 children globally – between the ages 2-14 worldwide are regularly subjected to physical punishment by their caregivers.
• One-third of students between the ages of 13 and 15 worldwide are regularly bullied.
