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UN Violence Prevention Report

UN Violence Prevention Report
UN Violence Prevention Report

One in four children has been physically abused, one in five girls has been sexually abused and one in three women has been a victim of physical violence at some point in her lifetime, according to the first report of its kind on violence prevention by three United Nations agencies released on December 11.

Jointly published by the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), The Global Status Report on Violence Prevention 2014 is the first survey of its kind to assess national efforts to address interpersonal violence, namely child maltreatment, youth violence, sexual violence, and elder abuse at home, school and communities.

The report, containing data from 133 countries, covering 6.1 billion people and representing 88 per cent of the world’s population contains individual country profiles that reflect the extent to which key violence prevention programs and laws and selected services for victims of violence are being implemented. It is intended for use by governments to help identify gaps and encourage and guide actions.

For example, only one-third of the countries surveyed are implementing large-scale initiatives to prevent violence, such as bullying prevention programs, visits by nurses to families at risk, and support to those who care for older people,” according to the report.

The report showed that “only half of all countries have services in place to protect and support victims of violence.” According to the report, 475,000 people were murdered in 2012, and homicide is the third leading cause of death globally for males aged 15-44 years, “highlighting the urgent need for more decisive action to prevent violence.”

“Non-fatal acts of violence take a particular toll on women and children,” the report showed. “One in four children has been physically abused; one in five girls has been sexually abused; and one in three women has been a victim of physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence at some point in her lifetime.”

The report drew attention to the need for care and support to victims of violence for reducing psychological trauma, helping victims heal, and preventing further involvement in violence.

 

Financialtribune.com