violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

330Violence against children in the communitySocietal-levelSocietal-level interventions can have a significantbearing on whether interpersonal violenceis prevented or reduced, or the extent to whichviolence is tolerated and encouraged. 248 For thisreason, violence prevention among the youngneeds to be factored into ‘macro-level’ decisionmakingareas such as national poverty reductionstrategies, sectoral policies to reduce social vulnerability,policies for local Government reformand administrative decentralisation, the extensionand improvement of services for health,education and community infrastructure, aswell as specific initiatives to advance women’sand children’s rights. The mechanisms wherebysuch policies are adapted and implemented atlocal level via community-based or group-basedapproaches require close attention.Economic opportunity and equalityTwo of the most critical challenges directlyaffecting young people, particularly those inhigh-risk settings, are access to positive livelihoodopportunities and the possibility ofupward mobility by non-criminal means. Ifyoung people feel they have a personal stakein building a safe environment and that theiraspirations are realisable within the law, thepersonal frustration and social tension thatfuel violence may be considerably defused. Aframework of national political, economic andsocial policies therefore needs to be developedwhich prioritises growth, equity and sustainabilityin the harnessing of natural and humanresources, and that replaces or rebuilds thedeficits in social safety and security whichhave emerged. 249There is some evidence that policies that reducethe concentration of poverty in urban areas,for example by improving employment andeducation opportunities, may be effective inreducing violent behaviour by young people. 250For example, in a pioneering study in the USA,young people in families that received rentalsubsidies and assistance to move out of poorneighbourhoods were significantly less likelyto engage in violent behaviour than those whodid not receive this level of support. 251The strong and consistent demonstration of aclose relationship between high levels of economicinequality and increased homicide ratesin adolescents and young adults indicates thatpolicies which reduce economic inequality orminimise its effects may be of great value inpreventing such violence. This appears to beespecially relevant for males, since researchindicates that the relationship between economicinequality and homicide is much strongerin males than in females. 252Reducing access to alcohol andillegal drugsInterventions which reduce access to alcoholor raise its price have been shown to reduceboth levels of consumption and rates of youthviolence within the community. In Diadema,Brazil, the prohibition of alcohol sales after23:00 helped prevent an estimated 273 murders(all ages) over a two-year period. 253 Inparts of the USA, restricting access to alcoholfor underage youths has reduced disorderlyconduct violations among 15–17-year olds. 254Conversely, the end of an anti-alcohol programmethat curtailed the supply of alcohol