The CDC released a groundbreaking report that estimates the global burden of violence against children under 18 for each region of the world. This report is entitled “Global Prevalence of Past-Year Violence Against Children: A Systematic Review and Minimum Estimates,” and it combines data from 38 reports covering 96 countries. The results indicate that violence against children is a serious global problem. The report estimates conservatively that at least 50% of children in Asia, Africa, and North America experienced serious forms of violence in the past year. Children experiencing violence are at risk of longterm consequences including chronic illnesses, injury, HIV, mental health problems, suicide, and reproductive health problems.
The data also indicates that the following strategies can help prevent violence against children: teaching positive parenting skills; economically empowering households; reducing violence through protective policies; improving health, child protection and support services; changing the social norms that support violence; and teaching children social, emotional, and life skills.
