violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

14ity, the short- and long-term repercussions canbe devastating (see Table 1.1). Early exposure toviolence is critical because it can have an impacton the architecture of the maturing brain. In thecase of prolonged violence, including witnessingviolence, the disruption of nervous and immunesystems can lead to social, emotional, and cognitiveimpairments, as well as behaviours thatcause disease, injury and social problems. 24Exposure to violence in childhood may alsoresult in greater susceptibility to lifelongsocial, emotional, and cognitive impairments,to obesity, and to health-risk behaviours suchas substance abuse, early sexual activity, andsmoking. 25,26 Related mental health and socialproblems include anxiety and depressive disorders,hallucinations, impaired work performance,memory disturbances, as well as aggressivebehaviour. These risks are also associatedlater on in life with lung, heart, and liver disease,sexually transmitted diseases and foetaldeath during pregnancy, as well as intimatepartner violence, and suicide attempts. 27,28Exposure to violence in the community is alsoassociated with troubling health behavioural,and social consequences. Associations haveAn end to violence against childrenFIGURE 1.3Estimated child homicide rates by age and sex10.009.069.00rate per 100 000 population8.00Females7.00Males6.005.004.003.002.933.281.92 1.99 2.092.082.001.48 1.491.001.000.000-17 yrs 0-4 yrs 5-9 yrs 10-14 yrs 15-17 yrsSource: WHO (2006). Global Estimates of Health Consequences due to Violence against Children.Background Paper to the UN Study on Violence against Children. Geneva, World Health Organization.