Publications

Violence affects the lives of up to 1 billion children globally, with long-lasting and costly emotional, social and economic consequences (1). Yet, violence against children is predictable and preventable, and governments have committed to ending it by adopting the targets associated with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Evidence-based guidance on what works to prevent and respond to violence against children is readily accessible in the seven INSPIRE strategies (see Box 1). This evidence shows that decreases in prevalence ranging from 20% to 50% have been achieved by well-designed programmes, many of which are implemented in low- and middle-income countries (2). Rapid reductions in violence are clearly possible if there exists political will and strong leadership, evidence-based policies and interventions, and adequate finance.