Data to action
Country-led action to prevent and address violence against children
Governments and partners use the Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) Data to Action process to strengthen prevention, healing and justice.
The impact of the VACS
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countries used VACS data to inform policy and programmatic action
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countries added/amended existing child safety laws and/or regulations
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countries banned corporal punishment
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countries banned child marriage
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% of the world’s population under 24 represented by VACS data
0
adolescents and young people between 13 to 24 years participated in VACS surveys
The VACS Data to Action Process
Effectively addressing violence against children and youth requires understanding the magnitude and nature of the problem and responding with a coordinated, multi-sector approach that builds systems for prevention and response including services for survivors:
1. Country commits to conducting a VACS
The Data to Action (D2A) process starts when a country decides to implement a Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS). The VACS are led by national governments with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other partners, as part of the Together for Girls partnership. See our country partners to learn more.
2. Survey implementation led by VACS partners
For details about the survey implementation process, led by national governments with support from the CDC, see About the VACS.
3. Improving policies and programs
After data collection, the government and other key stakeholders use VACS data and the INSPIRE framework to identify opportunities for improving policies and/or programs. This work is supported by VACS partners, including CDC, UNICEF, the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, and national civil society organizations. Activities include:
Data to Action roundtables
The government and VACS partners share preliminary results with relevant government sectors, civil society organizations and development partners to ensure multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder engagement in the post-VACS Data to Action process
Data to Action workshops
Data to Action workshops bring together stakeholders from multiple sectors to review VACS findings and identify priority issues shown by the data, as well as possible strategies for addressing those issues.
The workshop is a step in a longer process of translating the VACS results into meaningful prevention and response policies and programs.
Dissemination of VACS findings
The successful dissemination of findings from the VACS brings increased attention to violence against children. It helps raise awareness about this issue among diverse stakeholders, including other government sectors, civil society, development partners, the media and the general public.
The launch of the VACS report, usually led by the lead government agency, is a key component of the dissemination strategy.
National Action Plans and policies to address violence against children
In every country, VACS results have informed plans, policies, and strategies to address violence against children. Some countries choose to integrate violence prevention measures into overall development strategies, improve existing plans and policies related to children or develop stand-alone national plans to prevent and respond to violence against children.
Some countries that conduct a VACS choose to develop a new or adapt an existing National Action Plan to Prevent and Respond to Violence Against Children (NAP). Many countries that develop a NAP are also pathfinding countries of the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children.
