European regional status report on preventing violence against children 2020

2021, iv + 96 pages
ISBN  978 92 890 5549 9
This publication is only available online.

At least 55 million children in the WHO European Region experience some form of violence in their lifetime. Violence against children is a leading public health problem with devastating consequences for the victims and their families. The total annual cost to the health systems of the Region of not preventing adverse childhood experiences, including violence, amounts to US$ 581 billion.

This publication explores the progress that countries have made in implementing activities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets on ending violence against children by 2030 through the lens of the seven INSPIRE evidence-based strategies for ending violence against children.

Data collected through a survey of government-appointed national data coordinators in 45 of the 53 Member States of the Region show that government support for the implementation of INSPIRE was highest for implementation and enforcement of laws (95%) and parent and caregiver support (78%), and lowest for income and economic strengthening (37%). Surveillance of violence against children remains inadequate, and most countries do not undertake regular surveys. To achieve the SDG targets, more support from governments is needed.