A comparison of two population-based household surveys in Uganda for assessment of violence against youth

This study compared prevalence estimates of violence in youth aged 15–24 years from two Ugandan population-based cross-sectional household surveys, including the Violence Against Children and Youth Survey.

Disclosure and help-seeking behaviors related to sexual and physical violence in childhood and adolescence: Results from the Namibia Violence Against Children and Youth Survey

The objective of this study was to understand factors associated with disclosure and help-seeking to inform care.

Association between violence and mental distress, self-harm, and suicidal ideation and attempts among young people in Malawi

This study examines the relationship between exposure to violence and mental health issues among youth using a nationally representative study in Malawi.

Age at first exposure to violence and later mental health outcomes: A sex-disaggregated, multi-country analysis in sub-Saharan Africa

This study conducts a multi-country, gender-stratified analysis of the relationship between age at first incident of physical violence and outcomes of wellbeing in sub-Saharan Africa.

Cycles of violence among young women in Namibia: Exploring the links between childhood violence and adult intimate partner violence from the Violence Against Children and Youth Survey

This study aimed to understand cycles of violence among adolescent girls and young women in Namibia to inform violence prevention and treatment interventions.

Associations between adverse childhood experiences and contraceptive use among young adults in Honduras

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and contraceptive behaviors among young women and men in Honduras.

Parental care status and sexual risk behavior in five nationally-representative surveys of sub-Saharan African nations

This study was a secondary analysis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS) from Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Zambia.

The Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS): Using VACS data to drive programmes and policies

Explore this study on peer-reviewed research which used Violence Against Children and Youth (VACS) data or mentioned the VACS.

Self-harming behavior in relation to exposure to inter-personal violence among youth and young adults in Colombia

This study examined violence exposure and self-harm among Colombian youth aged 13–24.

Prevalence of physical violence against children in Haiti: A national population-based cross-sectional survey

This study utilized a three-stage clustered sampling design to administer a population-based household survey about victimization due to physical violence to 13–24 year old Haitians.

Factors associated with violence against children in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-regression of nationally representative data

This systematic review sought to identify the relative importance of factors associated with physical, emotional, and sexual violence against children in low- and middle-income countries.

Violence, SRH, health behaviors, risk, and protective factors, by level of education

Explore the results from a secondary analysis of VACS data by Together for Girls, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Global Affairs Canada.

Physical violence: The most common form of violence experienced by children and youth in Namibia

This brief explores the results of the 2019 the Violence Against Children and Youth Survey, which found that both boys and girls experience unacceptably high rates of emotional, physical, and sexual violence in Namibia.

Policy brief: Investment in nationally representative data on violence against children in low- and middle-income countries

Explore the key findings and recommendations in this policy brief based upon a global systematic review and meta-analysis of factors associated with physical, emotional, and sexual violence against children in ow- and middle-income countries.

Attitudinal acceptance of intimate partner violence and mental health outcomes for female survivors in sub-Saharan Africa

This analysis employed data from 13–24-year-old females as part of the Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS) in Nigeria, Uganda, and Malawi.

From fathers to peers: Association between paternal violence victimization and peer violence perpetration among youth in Malawi, Nigeria, and Zambia

This study specifically investigates the role of fathers and whether paternal violence victimization is associated with peer violence perpetration, above and beyond maternal violence victimization.

Sexual risk behaviors, mental health outcomes, and attitudes supportive of wifebeating associated with childhood transactional sex among adolescent girls and young women: Findings from the Uganda Violence Against Children and Youth Survey

Explore the research and findings from the Uganda Violence Against Children and Youth Survey.

Prevalence of childhood exposure to intimate partner violence and associations with mental distress in Cambodia, Malawi and Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

This study seeks to explore the magnitude of witnessing intimate partner violence between caregivers, its association with other types of violence, and the relationship between witnessing intimate partner violence in the past and current mental distress.

The negative impact of violence on children’s education and well-being: Evidence from Northern Nigeria

This study provides comprehensive evidence on the negative effects of physical, sexual, and emotional violence on children’s well-being and educational outcomes in Northern Nigeria.

Associations between endorsement of inequitable gender norms and intimate partner violence and sexual risk behaviors among youth in Nigeria: Violence Against Children and Youth Survey, 2014

This study assessed whether the endorsement of inequitable gender norms about intimate partner violence against women and sexual behavior was associated with intimate partner violence victimization, intimate partner violence perpetration, and sexual risk behavior.

Disclosure, reporting, and help seeking among child survivors of violence: A cross country analysis

This study explores the rarely studied prevalence and dynamics around disclosure, reporting, and help seeking behaviours of children who ever experienced physical and/or sexual violence.

Did internal displacement from the 2010 earthquake in Haiti lead to long-term violence against children? A matched pairs study design

This article examines the effect of internal displacement from the 2010 Haitian earthquake on long-term physical, emotional, and sexual violence against children.

Violence against children and youth in the Northern Triangle

Explore data from the Honduras and El Salvador Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) reports launched in 2019.

Early sexual debut: A multi-country, sex-stratified analysis in sub-Saharan Africa

This article examines the outcomes associated with early sexual debut in five sub-Saharan African countries for males and females, separately.

Emotional violence in childhood and health conditions, risk-taking behaviors, and violence perpetration among young adults in Nigeria

This study examines the independent association between emotional violence and some health conditions, risk taking behaviors, and violence perpetration among Nigerian young adults.

COVID-19: Strengthening efforts to prevent and respond to school-related gender-based violence as schools reopen

This policy brief is targeted at policymakers and practitioners working in gender, education, and child protection fields.

National prevention and response plan on violence against children in Kenya 2019-2023

The Kenyan government has developed a national prevention and response plan (2019-2023) that aims to reduce violence against children prevalence by 40 percent.

Intimate partner violence and mental health: Sex-disaggregated associations among adolescents and young adults in Uganda

This study examines the association between intimate partner violence victimization, perpetration, and mental health outcomes for male and female adolescents and young adults.

Sexual violence prevalence and related pregnancy among girls and young women: A multicountry analysis

This study aims to quantify the prevalence of forced sex, pressured sex, and related pregnancy among adolescent girls and young women in five low- and middle-income countries.

Progress report annex 2019

In 2019, Together for Girls celebrated 10 years of partnership. This visual annex highlights key accomplishments from the partnership’s banner year, including high-level VACS launches, global events, and the release of several new resources.

Violence victimization and negative health correlates of youth in post earthquake Haiti: Findings from the cross-sectional violence against children survey

Explore this study examining the prevalence of, and relationships between, violence victimization and negative health correlates of Haitian youth exposed to the 2010 earthquake.

Perpetration of intimate partner violence and mental health outcomes: Sex- and gender-disaggregated associations among adolescents and young adults in Nigeria

This analysis examines the association between intimate partner violence perpetration and mental health for male and female adolescents and young adults in Nigeria.

Attitudinal acceptance of intimate partner violence among adolescents and young adults in Nigeria and Tanzania: An exploration into target reference groups

This study examines the gendered association of acceptance of intimate partner violence across age, marital status, and education attainment — for male and female adolescents and young adults.

Associations between mental distress, poly-victimization, and gender attitudes among adolescent girls in Cambodia and Haiti: An analysis of Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys

This study aims to explore the effects of poly-victimisation and gender attitudes on mental distress and suicidal ideation among adolescent girls in Cambodia and Haiti.

Speaking up and speaking out: Help needed

This brief explores the findings from the Violence Against Children and Youth Survey in Namibia highlighting the need for children and youth to know they can report violence, and that they will be helped.

What works to prevent sexual violence against children: Evidence review

Together for Girls, in partnership with The Equality Institute and the Oak Foundation, undertook a systematic review of proven solutions and best practices to prevent and respond to sexual violence against children and young people.

Priority indicator report from the Mozambique Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (2019)

This report presents the priority indicators from the Mozambique Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS, 2019).

Sex and age effects in past-year experiences of violence amongst adolescents in five countries

The purpose of this study was to investigate experiences of violence by age and sex across in Cambodia, Haiti, Kenya, Malawi, and Tanzania.

A sex-disaggregated analysis of how emotional violence relates to suicide ideation in low- and middle-income countries

This study examines how exposure to emotional violence is associated with suicide ideation in childhood and adolescence in low- and middle-income countries.

Coerced and forced sexual initiation and its association with negative health outcomes among youth: Results from the Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys

This study examined the prevalence of forced sexual initiation and its consequences associated with forced sexual initiation among youth aged 13–24 years in three countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

INSPIRE: Seven strategies for ending violence against children

Building on growing evidence that violence against children is preventable, these evidence-based strategies support countries and communities to intensify their focus on prevention programmes and services in order to reduce violence against children.

Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet

Learn more about the Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS), including background on the process for implementation, details about the type of data found in the surveys, and information on where the surveys have been conducted so far.

Sexual violence against children and youth fact sheet

Learn more about sexual violence against children, adolescents, and youth with data from the Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS), including data on prevalence and perpetration.

Together for Girls: See our story

Watch this video to learn more about the Together for Girls partnership.

Gender norms and health: Insights from global survey data

This article explores how the use of innovative approaches to analyzing proxies for gender norms, generated evidence that gender norms impact the health of women and men across life stages, health sectors, and world regions.

Effects of poly-victimization before age 18 on health outcomes in young Kenyan adults: Violence Against Children and Youth Survey

This study explores the collective effects of childhood sexual, physical, and emotional violence on selected self-reported health outcomes among young Kenyan females and males using the Violence Against Children Survey (VACS).

Childhood violence is associated with forced sexual initiation among girls and young women in Malawi: A cross-sectional survey

This purpose of this study is to describe associations between childhood violence and forced sexual initiation in young Malawian females.

Prevalence of violence victimization and perpetration among persons aged 13–24 years: Four sub-Saharan African countries, 2013–2015

From 2013 to 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collaborated with Together for Girls and the governments of Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia to plan and implement Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys.

The economic burden of violence against children: Nigeria study

Explore the first study to estimate the economic burden of aspects of violence against children in Nigeria.

Risk factors for childhood violence and poly-victimization: A cross-country analysis from three regions

Explore this analysis looking at risk factors of childhood emotional, physical, sexual violence, and polyvictimization for children aged 13–17 from Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys across six countries.

Cycle of violence among young Kenyan women: The link between childhood violence and adult physical intimate partner violence in a population-based survey

This study explores the association between emotional, physical, and sexual violence against children with physical intimate partner violence in young adulthood.

Infographic: Ending violence against children in Lao PDR

Using infographics, this document visualizes the findings of the national Violence against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) in Lao PDR.

Missed treatment opportunities and barriers to comprehensive treatment for sexual violence survivors in Kenya: A mixed methods study

This study compares the characteristics of survivors who present for healthcare to those of survivors reporting violence on national surveys; understand the healthcare services provided to survivors; and, identify barriers to treatment.

The multi-country study on the drivers of violence affecting children in Zimbabwe: Using a mixed methods, multi-stakeholder approach to discover what drives violence

Explore this article on what drives violence against children in Zimbabwe and what can be done to address them.

Sampling design and methodology of the Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys

This study describes the surveys’ target population, sampling design, statistical considerations, data collection process, priority violence indicators, and data dissemination.

Adverse childhood experiences and HIV sexual risk-taking behaviors among young adults in Malawi

This analysis explores the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and HIV sexual risk-taking behaviors among young adults in Malawi.

Critical elements of interviewer training for engaging children and adolescents in global violence research: Best practices and lessons learned from the Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS)

This white paper seeks to fill a gap in the field by describing strategies for interviewer recruitment and training for population-based studies on violence with child research participants.

Zanzibar: National Plan of Action to end violence against women and children 2017-2022

This National Plan of Action provides a five-year national framework for all stakeholders committed to preventing and responding to violence against women and children in Zanzibar.

Who perpetrates violence against children? A systematic analysis of agespecific and sex-specific data

T-Watoto survey report on Violence Against Children in Zanzibar

Explore the findings from this 2017 T-Watoto survey report which will inform the design and implementation of key interventions in engaging with communities to prevent and respond to violence against children.

Emotional abuse of girls in Swaziland: Prevalence, perpetrators, risk and protective factors, and health outcomes

This article explores the analysis of the associations between emotional abuse and putative risk, and protective factors and health outcomes.

Sexual violence against female and male children in the United Republic of Tanzania

This article explores the prevalence, circumstances, and health outcomes associated with childhood sexual violence.

National Plan of Action to Prevent and Respond to Violence against Children in Tanzania 2017

The five-year National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children has been developed by consolidating eight different action plans.

Nigeria: A Pathfinding country

This document sets out the pathway that Nigeria will take to achieve the goal of ending violence against children.

Lao PDR Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) preliminary report 2016 (data collection 2014)

Explore Lao PDR’s Violence Against Children Survey (VACS) preliminary report.

Strengthening linkages between clinical and social/community services for children and adolescents who have experienced sexual violence: A companion guide

This document serves as a companion guide to the 2012 Clinical management of children and adolescents who have experienced sexual violence: Technical considerations for PEPFAR Programs, which provides step-by-step guidance on the appropriate clinical/forensic care for children and adolescents who have experienced sexual violence and exploitation.

Violent experiences in childhood are associated with men’s perpetration of intimate partner violence as a young adult: A multistage cluster survey in Malawi

This study examines the association between exposures to violence in childhood, including exposure to multiple forms of violence, with young men's perpetration of intimate partner violence.

Childhood sexual violence against boys: A Study in three countries

This study sought to produce the first internationally comparable estimates of the magnitude, characteristics, risk factors, and consequences of sexual violence against boys in three countries.

Violence Against Children Surveys (VACS): towards a global surveillance system

This research briefing describes the contribution VACS have made to the global understanding of violence against children.

Preventing violence against children in Malawi

Watch this video to learn how young girls and boys in Malawi are empowered with skills to protect themselves and their friends against sexual abuse.

Sentinel events predicting later unwanted sex among girls: A national survey in Haiti 2012

This article explores findings from Haiti’s first nationally representative survey focused on childhood violence to help inform the development of a national action plan for violence against children.

Priorities for research, monitoring and evaluation: Building the new agenda for Violence Against Children (VAC)

Explore this summary report on the Together for Girls experts meeting with key partners working to combat violence against children (VAC) from the fields of human rights, HIV/AIDS, and violence against women (VAW).

Considerations for developing comprehensive national actions to prevent and respond to violence against children

This document builds on The Together for Girls Partnership: Linking Violence Against Children Surveys to coordinated and effective action, consolidating lessons learned from countries undertaking the national action planning process.

Core commitments to prevent and respond to violence against children in Cambodia

This document outlines the government of Cambodia’s core commitments to prevent and respond to violence against children leading to the development of a National Action Plan on violence against children in Cambodia.

The economic burden of the health consequences of violence against children in Cambodia

This study estimates the health and economic burden of violence against children in Cambodia, addressing a significant gap in the current evidence base.

Preventing sexual violence and HIV in children

This study explores the evidence linking violence against women and HIV, including on the cycle of violence and the links between violence against children and women.

Applying structural equation modeling to measure violence exposure and its impact on mental health: Malawi Violence Against Children and Young Women Survey, 2013

This study examines exposure to multiple forms of violence among Malawian children and youth and their association with mental health outcomes.

Linking Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS) to coordinated and effective action

This document serves as a guide for countries and Together for Girls partners interested in undertaking the Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS).

A national survey of childhood physical abuse among females in Swaziland

Explore this study on the scope and characteristics of childhood physical abuse in Swaziland.

The long-term health consequences of child physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this study in 2012 was to summarize the evidence relating to the possible relationship between child physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect, and subsequent mental and physical health outcomes.

Protocol on the multi-sectoral management of sexual abuse and violence in Zimbabwe

Explore the protocols on the multi-sectoral management of sexual abuse and violence in Zimbabwe.

Technical action framework 2011

The purpose of the Technical action framework is to provide key stakeholders with an overview of the strategies that can be used to prevent and reduce sexual violence and its consequences to children, especially girls.

Risk factors associated with sexual violence towards girls in Swaziland

This article explores risk factors for sexual violence in childhood in a nationally representative sample of females aged 13 to 24 years in Swaziland.

Sexual violence and its health consequences for female children in Swaziland: A cluster survey study

This study looks at the prevalence and circumstances of sexual violence in girls in Swaziland, and assesses the negative health consequences.

Clinical management of children and adolescents experienced sexual violence