World Vision launches global campaign to end violence against children

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

BANGKOK/SINGAPORE (1 MARCH 2017) – World Vision, an international Christian aid and development agency, has launched a five-year global campaign to end violence against children. With the tagline, “It takes a world to end violence against children”, World Vision is rolling out this campaign with partners in 70 of its offices worldwide in the coming year, including 20 in the Asia Pacific.  

Based on analysis of the most prevalent forms of violence against children that World Vision and it partners can influence, the campaign will focus, in the Asia Pacific region, on physical violence in schools and the home, corporal punishment in all settings, sexual abuse, child labour, child trafficking and child marriage.

The campaign is guided by World Health Organization’s INSPIRE package of seven evidence-based best practices to end violence against children. 

Tackling the toughest

The number of working children in Asia Pacific is- by far- the most numerous in the world. In South Asia and Pacific alone 77.7 million children are subject to child labour. Roughly one out of every five boys and girls has been sexually abused and up to four out of every 10 children report some form of emotional abuse, with girls in high-income countries in East Asia the most affected. In the Philippines, 17% of children experienced sexual abuse while growing up.  About 37% of girls in Nepal marry before the age of 18.

 Rapid economic change – and the growth of urban poverty and migration – has actually worsened some forms of violence against children.  But it isn’t better at the other end of the income scale: up to one-third of children living in low and middle-income countries report experiencing violence. Corporal punishment is normalized throughout the region and cyber crimes are on the uptick.

 In East Asia, nearly three out of every four children experience violent discipline. No country in East Asia fully complies with the US-drafted Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which coordinates anti-trafficking efforts worldwide. Globally, six out of every ten children between the ages of two and 14 suffer from physical punishment on a regular basis, and an estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked annually.

 SDG opening

World Vision’s campaign aligns with and contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 16.2 to “end the abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children”.

“The SDGs provide World Vision and its partners a historic opportunity to tip the scale definitively against silence and, in too many places, outright acceptance of violence against children,” said Leen Decadt, World Vision’s Child Protection Advisor in East Asia.

“There is empirical evidence that with enough mobilization, indignation and persistent advocacy, we can swing the pendulum against social injustice. This is our moment to collectively prevent acts of violence against children – to salvage scarred childhoods,” she concluded.

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Media contacts: 

Caroline Thomas-Lingham (South Asia and Pacific)
Communications & Public Engagement Director
South Asia and Pacific Regional Office
Email: caroline_thomas-lingham@wvi.org | Skype: carolinetl
Phone:  +6565117125 | Mobile: +6592333834
 
Phuong Tran (East Asia)
Regional Communications Director, East Asia Regional Office
Email: phuong_tran@wvi.org | Skype: phuongtran_comms
Phone: +66 2 022 7050 |  Mobile: +66 87 056 0077

 

World Vision background

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation committed to helping children enjoy life in all its fullness. In the Asia Pacific region, World Vision works in 17 countries in nearly 600 project areas. We serve 1.25 million children who are sponsored by donors, along with their families and larger communities.

 

Campaign information resources

 

Child Protection