February 12, 2025, Lusaka, Zambia- The Joining Forces Alliance expresses deep concern over the alarming number of children affected by Gender-Based Violence (GBV), as highlighted in the 2024 Fourth Quarter GBV Data Analysis released by the Zambia Police on February 1, 2025. The report indicates that 2,666 children were victims of GBV, accounting for 21.5% of all reported cases.

This press release highlights the alarming increase in violence against children in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where they are being forcibly recruited, armed, and killed. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has verified reports of children being summarily executed by M23 forces after they entered Bukavu last week. The UNHRC also reports that children are being used as combatants, a serious breach of international humanitarian and human rights law. World Vision condemns these heinous acts in the strongest terms and urges immediate international intervention to safeguard the lives and rights of children.

World Vision Southern Africa, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Global Fund, is implementing adolescent-friendly spaces (AFS) across Zambia to support young people in making informed Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) decisions. Through the IMPACT+ model, a life skills approach integrating education, behavior change, and service-learning, over 36,000 out-of-school adolescents have been reached with SRH interventions, empowering them to navigate challenges like early pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and peer pressure. By equipping peer educators and health workers with IMPACT+ skills, the initiative fosters safe spaces where adolescents can access SRHR education, receive guidance, and build confidence. With increased community involvement and government support, this model is paving the way for sustainable adolescent health and well-being in the region.

A report brief

Every week, an average of 16 children are casualties of war. Since the conflict started, 659 children have been killed and 1,747 have been injured. Millions of Ukrainian children continue to have their lives shattered by daily violence, displacement, disrupted education, limited healthcare access, the effects of mental health disorders and trauma, family separation, and violations of their human rights.

The purpose of this guide is to provide World Vision staff with practical ways of understanding gender-based violence (GBV) concepts. It supports the understanding of key concepts related to GBV to enhance the development of interventions to address gender-based violence in non-targeted programming (mainstreaming).

The Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) approach has significantly transformed the education sector by empowering communities to advocate for better educational services and infrastructure. Through CVA, parents, teachers, and local leaders actively engage with policymakers to address challenges such as inadequate school facilities, teacher shortages, and lack of learning materials. As a result, many schools have seen improved resource allocation, enhanced accountability, and increased enrollment rates, ultimately creating a more conducive learning environment for children