Preventing violence against children
From enforcing laws to prevent corporal punishment and enhancing positive parenting in South Africa, Colombia and Norway. To implementing safety education programs to prevent cyberbullying and promote respectful relationships in schools in Uganda. And
training health care providers to recognize child maltreatment in their day-to-day practice in Tanzania and Montenegro. There are many examples of evidence-based, multi-sectoral approaches that have been proven to prevent violence against children,
both online and offline.
Yet violence against children – and its devastating consequences – remains a major health and social issue. Every five minutes, a child dies as a result of violence. Global estimates indicate that one billion children – over
half of all children aged 2-17 years – have experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence in the past 12 months alone. And nearly 3 in 4 children aged 2-4 years repeatedly suffer physical punishment or psychological violence at the hands
of parents or caregivers. These shocking statistics can be significantly reduced with targeted action.
For public officials and practitioners, WHO is a globally respected source of best practice on taking meaningful action. We respond to demand and drive action by connecting expert partners and demonstrating what works. Year on year, we build national
capacities to address the issue, monitor progress and foster global advocacy.
Over the past 20 years, we have been successful in raising awareness of the impacts of violence. We helped secure violence prevention as a global priority – starting with the World Report on Violence and Health. And helped establish UN Sustainable
Development Goal Target 16.2 to end all forms of violence against children.
Now our strategy is shifting from universal awareness to universal action. We believe that violence against children should not be tolerated when it can be actively addressed.
Following an evidence-based and scientific approach, we publish practical guidance for international and national partners, government ministries, and individual practitioners. For example, in 2016 in collaboration with key partners, we launched: INSPIRE: Seven strategies for ending violence against children. Analysis
shows that well-designed, local INSPIRE programmes have led to violence reductions of 20-50%.
To find out more, see the WHO Violence Prevention Unit Strategy (2022-2026) and to get the latest WHO guidance and resources visit who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-health/violence-prevention.
