World Vision warns about increasing risks of violence affecting children 

EACH year, violence claims the lives of approximately 130,000 children and adolescents worldwide, while over one billion children suffer physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.

Factors such as migration, conflict, disasters, and displacement contribute to this devastating reality. To address this crisis and seek meaningful solutions, more than 80 countries gathered for the first-ever Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, held in Bogotá, Colombia, from 7 to 8 November 2024. World Vision was among the key participants at this significant event, which aimed to develop concrete and actionable steps to protect children everywhere.

The child-led event provided an essential forum for leaders to discuss the extensive consequences of violence against children, which threaten not only their mental and physical well-being but also inflict considerable costs on the global economy and society. It also focused on developing and implementing effective policies to safeguard children. Additionally, World Vision will host a dedicated event addressing the pressing issues of child marriage and early unions.

Joao Diniz, Regional Leader of World Vision in Latin America and the Caribbean said:

“Violence against children, whether physical, emotional, or sexual, is a pervasive issue affecting millions worldwide. The consequences are far-reaching, leading to physical injuries, mental health problems, and long-term trauma. As families and thousands of unaccompanied children flee poverty, insecurity, and hunger, we must ensure that every child, especially those who are internally displaced or migrating, is protected. We must implement public policies that guarantee protection, education, health, and food for every child as the impact of climate disruptions and conflict continues to rise across the region and the world.”

Factors such as natural disasters, conflict, migration, and displacement have exacerbated vulnerabilities and created new avenues for violence against children. Alarmingly, one in every eight migrants worldwide is a child. Throughout the migration process, these children are disproportionately susceptible to violence, abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and detention, particularly if they are unaccompanied or separated from their families. By the end of 2023, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to conflict and violence reached a record high of 75.9 million worldwide, 47.2 million of whom are children.

The situation in Latin America and the Caribbean is particularly dire, with 2.8 million people forcibly displaced in 2023 due to violence and the effects of climate change. Countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru host significant populations of migrants and displaced individuals. For example, in Colombia, two out of every ten migrants are children under 18 years old.

World Vision remains committed to addressing the needs of children affected by violence and displacement and calls for stronger collaboration between government bodies, civil society, and community partners to achieve lasting human transformation and build a world where every child experiences Jesus’ promise of life in all its fullness.