violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

1Some groups or categories of children are especiallyvulnerable to different forms of violence.For example, higher levels of vulnerabilityare associated with children with disabilities,orphaned children (including the millionsorphaned by AIDS), indigenous children,children from ethnic minorities and othermarginalised groups, children living or workingon the streets, children in institutions anddetention, children living in communities inwhich inequality, unemployment and povertyare highly concentrated, child refugees andother displaced children. Gender also plays akey role, as girls and boys are at different riskfor different kinds of violence.Global issues also play a part, including increasinginequality between and within States,migration, urbanisation, and armed conflict.Addressing these challenges, as well as reachinginternationally agreed objectives such asFIGURE 1.2the Millennium Development Goals, will aidthe elimination of violence against children.At the same time, other factors may preventor reduce the likelihood of violence. Althoughmore research is needed on these protectivefactors, it is clear that the development ofstrong attachment bonds between parents andchildren, and the nurturing of relationshipswith children that do not involve violence orhumiliation within stable family units, can bepowerful sources of protection for children.Factors applicable to the prevention of violencein the various settings are described inChapters 3 to 7.The devastating impactof violenceAlthough the consequences of violence againstchildren vary according to its nature and sever-Ecological model for understanding risk factors and protective factors of violence13An end to violence against childrenSocietyCommunity Relationship IndividualSource: Krug EG et al. (Eds) (2002). World Report on Violence and Health. Geneva, World Health Organization.