Countries pledge to act against childhood violence, which affects around one billion children

More than 100 governments today made historic commitments to end childhood violence, including nine pledging to ban corporal punishment – a problem that affects 3 in 5 children regularly in their homes. These commitments were undertaken in significant event in Bogota, Colombia, where government delegations are to agree on a new global declaration aimed at protecting children from all forms of violence, exploitation and abuse.

Also at the event, hosted by the governments of Colombia and Sweden along with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Violence Against Children, several countries pledged to improve services for child victims of violence or to address violence, while others said they would invest in key parenting support – one of the most effective interventions to reduce the risk of violence in the home.

“Despite being highly preventable, violence remains a horrific daily reality for millions of children around the world – leaving scars that span generations,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO. “Today, countries made critical pledges that, once implemented, could finally turn the tide in the fight against childhood violence. From establishing life-changing support for families to creating safer places in schools or tackling online bullying, these actions will be key to protecting children from lasting harm and ill health.”

It is estimated that more than half of all children in the world – about 1 billion – suffer some form of violence, such as child maltreatment (including corporal punishment, the most widespread form of childhood violence), abuse, physical or emotional abuse, as well as sexual violence. . Child abuse is often hidden, mostly behind closed doors and largely under-reported. The WHO estimates that less than half of affected children tell anyone that they have experienced violence, and less than 10% receive any help.

Such violence not only constitutes a serious violation of children's rights, but also increases the risk of immediate and long-term health problems. For some children, violence results in death or serious injury. Every 13 minutes, a child or adolescent dies as a result of homicide – equating to approximately 40,000 preventable deaths each year. For others, the experience of violence has devastating and lifelong consequences. These include anxiety and depression, risky behaviors such as unsafe sex, smoking and substance abuse, and reduced academic achievement.

Evidence shows that violence against children can be prevented, with the health sector playing a key role. Proven solutions include parenting supports that help caregivers avoid abusive discipline and build positive relationships with their children; interventions in schools to strengthen life and social skills for children and adolescents and prevent bullying; child-friendly social and health services for children who have experienced violence; laws that prohibit violence against children and reduce underlying risk factors such as access to alcohol and weapons, and efforts to ensure safer Internet use for children. Research has shown that when countries effectively implement such strategies, they can reduce violence against children by as much as 20-50%.

In accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the first global goals to stop violence against children were established in the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. However, progress in reducing the overall prevalence of childhood violence has been slow, despite progress in some individual countries. Roughly 9 out of 10 children still live in countries where prevalent forms of childhood violence, such as corporal punishment and even sexual abuse and exploitation, are not yet prohibited by law.

More than 1,000 people are attending this first ministerial conference on violence against children, including senior government delegations, children, youth, survivors and civil society allies.

Specific pledges at the event include, among others, a commitment to ending corporal punishment, introducing new digital security initiatives, raising the legal age of marriage, and investing in parenting education and child protection. WHO provides significant support to efforts to end childhood violence, through technical guidance, leading effective prevention and response strategies, and conducting new research and data, including its global status reports.

Key statistics

• More than half of all children between the ages of 2 and 17 – more than 1 billion – experience some form of violence each year.
• Approximately 3 out of 5 children are regularly punished with physical means in their homes.
• 1 out of 5 girls and 1 out of 7 boys experience sexual violence.
• It is estimated that between 25% and 50% of children have experienced bullying.
• For adolescent males, violence—often involving firearms or other weapons—is now the leading cause of death.

Significant promises

• Eight countries have committed to enacting laws against corporal punishment in all settings – Burundi, Czech Republic, Gambia, Kyrgyzstan, Panama, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Tajikistan – and Nigeria in schools.
• Dozens of countries have pledged to invest in parenting support.
• The UK Government, together with other partners, has committed to launching a Global Taskforce to stop violence in and through schools.
• Tanzania has committed to introducing child protection desks in all 25,000 schools.
• Spain has committed to enacting a new digital law to promote digital security.
• Solomon Islands has pledged to raise the age of marriage from 15 to 18 – noting that early marriage is a significant risk factor for violence against adolescent girls.
• Many countries have committed to strengthen national policies and/or develop specific plans to combat violence against children.

All the promises