Governments, civil society, youth representatives, and international partners from across Latin America and the Caribbean renewed their commitment to end violence against children and adolescents during a high-level regional consultation co-hosted by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and UNICEF.
The region continues to have the highest rates of violence against children and adolescents worldwide. Nearly two out of three children aged 1 to 14 experience violent discipline at home, and one in five girls experience sexual violence before reaching 18. Interpersonal violence remains a leading cause of death for young people. Despite progress and political commitments, efforts to protect children from violence remain insufficient.
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Over two days of dialogue, held virtually on the 23 and 24 October, more than 300 participants – including ministers and senior officials from the health, education, justice, and child protection sectors, as well as representatives of civil society, youth leaders, and international partners — came together to discuss concrete actions to build safer environments for children and adolescents.
“Every child has the right to grow up free from violence, safe in their homes, schools, and communities, and to enjoy a childhood full of opportunities,” said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO. “The change we want to see in the health system is clear: health services must be in daily contact with communities. When health workers identify individuals who are at-risk early and provide them with quality support, it makes a real difference to survivors of violence, their families, and communities. It is a unique opportunity to improve public trust in the response system and decisively demonstrate that violence is never justified.”
“For millions of children in Latin America and the Caribbean, violence remains in their homes, schools, communities or online, undermining their mental health, fueling cycles of poverty, and even perpetuates violence into the next generations,” said Anne-Claire Dufay UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “The good news is we know what works to end violence. We need bold investments to ensure every child is protected—investments in prevention, in early detection, in quality services, and in justice systems that respond with dignity and care. When we protect children from violence, we are not only saving lives—we are shaping the future of the region.”
