Press releases and statements

The Government of Mozambique launches Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) Report

15th June 2022

Gaining a better understanding of Mozambique children’s and youths’ experiences with violence in order to chart a new path towards prevention, healing and justice

On June 16, 2022, the Government of Mozambique launched its Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report in celebration of the International Day of the African Child. The Mozambique VACS, the first to be executed in a Portuguese-speaking country, was led by the Mozambique National Health Institute (Instituto Nacional de Saúde or INS), in collaboration with the Instituto Nacional de Estatístic (INE), the Ministry of Child, Gender and Social Action (MGCAS), the Ministry of Health (MISAU), and UNICEF-Mozambique, with support from other Together for Girls partners including the CDC and PEPFAR.

Mozambique VACS report cover 2019
Mozambique VACS report cover

The Mozambique VACS report reveals key findings from the survey, which Mozambique conducted in 2019. To date, 22 countries have published VACS reports. The VACS are led by national governments, with technical assistance from the CDC, as part of the Together for Girls partnership. The VACS measure multiple forms of violence against children and adolescents: sexual, physical, and emotional, and they provide important data on risk factors, protective factors, and consequences of violence.

The Mozambique VACS report will inform recommendations to guide programs and policies to end all forms of violence against children and youth, and to improve the health and well-being of children in the country.

Data from the Mozambique VACS shows that girls and boys experience high rates of sexual and physical violence. Key findings include:

  • 14% of girls and 8% of boys experienced sexual violence prior to age 18
  • 24% of girls and 34% of boys experienced physical violence prior to age 18
  • For 60% of females who experienced sexual violence prior to age 18, the first incident of sexual violence was perpetrated by an intimate partner
  • For 73% of girls and 61% of boys, the location of the first incidence of sexual violence they experienced was at home†
† Home includes: Respondent’s, perpetrator’s or someone else’s home
To learn more about the results of the Mozambique survey, you can view the report or the fact sheet with key data highlights or visit the Together for GIrls Mozambique country page.