Violence prevention in vulnerable groups: the case of children and gender-based violence

Abstract

Abstract As of January 2018, nearly 50 million children had been uprooted from their homes due to violence, poverty or natural disasters. In 2016, one in four people seeking asylum in the EU are children. An analysis of nationally representative survey data on the prevalence of violence against children in 96 countries estimates that 1 billion children globally have experienced emotional, physical or sexual violence in the past year. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by nearly all states, must be fully implemented complied with. To support the implementation of the Convention, ten UN agencies incl. WHO have published the INSPIRE Handbook a technical package with seven strategies to end violence against children. Another significant public health issue that needs to be addressed is sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Evidence shows that being an irregular migrant or asylum seeker appears to make an individual more vulnerable to SGBV, including sexual assault and rape by traffickers and smugglers. Working alongside displaced communities and with different partners across multiple sectors are the strategies to reduce the risks of SGBV and to ensure support for survivors.