ABSTRACT

This chapter reviews evidence about the prevalence of violence against children in Latin American and the Caribbean, with a focus on population-based data sources and indicators for measuring 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also explores risk factors, situations of vulnerability, consequences, and policy implications. More than 20 countries have national data on violent discipline in the home, including 15 with estimates of past month physical punishment, ranging from 20-78% of children up to age 14. Many countries have national estimates for peer violence, with sub-regional estimates of bullying (past month) ranging from one to two in five students aged 13–15. National estimates of sexual abuse before age 18 are limited and are often difficult to compare across sites because of differences in definitions and methods; but studies suggest such violence is common against both girls and boys. Estimates of physical and/or sexual violence against ever-partnered girls aged 15–19 are available from many countries, ranging from about 9% to 32% in one 12-country analysis. Finally, Latin America and the Caribbean has the highest estimated homicide rate (12 per 100,000) among children and adolescents aged 0’19 of any region in the world, fueled by alarming levels of armed violence, gang activity and organized crime. Generally, however, evidence on violence against children in the Region is fragmented. If countries aim to measure the violence-related SDG indicators as agreed, they will need to expand population-based data collection and improve the cross-national comparability of data, particularly for sexual violence.