Ending Violence in Childhood

This report from Know Violence in Childhood documents the scale of violence experienced by millions of the world’s children, the latest evidence on the consequences of violence in childhood, and the approaches to preventing such violence in the future. In the past year, at least three of every four of the world’s children have experienced abuse, interpersonal violence, or another form of cruelty in their homes, schools, and communities. Violence against children reaches beyond immediate trauma and the effects can lead to depression and behavioral problems, impaired mental well-being affecting educational achievement, and increased vulnerability to substance abuse and poor sexual and reproductive health. For many, violence in childhood will have dire life-long consequences, which can perpetuate through continuing generations. To prevent violence in childhood, the report advocates for enhancing the capacities of parents, caregivers, and children; embedding violence-prevention in institutions and services; and eliminating the root causes of violence.

Know Violence in Childhood is an independent global learning initiative which seeks to end violence in childhood across the world. The initiative gathers evidence on violence in childhood and on the connections with health, education, and poverty, to make the case for greater global investment in violence prevention. It builds on three core ideas: that violence is preventable; that sound evidence and effective communication should inform policy and program strategies; and that countries can learn from each other.