ABSTRACT

This chapter describes the global magnitude of violence against children around the world and reviews the life-long health consequences of exposure to violence as a child, as well as the associated biologic underpinnings and economic costs. It highlights promising solutions, based on the best available evidence, for strengthening the prevention of violence for all children in all countries. Documenting the magnitude of violence against children is and will continue to be essential for targeting prevention and driving the urgent investment in action endorsed in the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Violence against children is an endemic public health and human rights problem, with potentially devastating and costly consequences. Consistent evidence confirms that exposure to violence during childhood increases the risks of injury, mental health problems, reproductive health problems, non-communicable diseases, and infectious diseases. Beyond chronic health consequences, serious psychosocial effects that are highly detrimental to quality of life persist decades after childhood violence occurs.