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Adapting the Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS) to humanitarian settings
VAC Survey Research Fellowships

Adverse childhood experiences, mental distress, self-harm and suicidality, and cumulative HIV risk by sex in Lesotho

This study uses data from the 2018 Lesotho VACS to explore associations between mental distress, self-harm or suicidality, and HIV risk and individual and cumulative ACEs among youth aged 13–24 in Lesotho.

VACS reports

Eswatini Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2022 (data collection 2021)

Explore the data in Eswatini's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

VACS journal articles

Exploring children’s formal help-seeking behaviour for violence in Zimbabwe: analysis of national survey and routine service provider data

VACS journal articles

Cross-time comparison of adverse childhood experience patterns among Kenyan youth: Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys, 2010 and 2019

VACS reports

Eswatini Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) Priority Indicator Report 2022

Explore the data in Eswatini's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) Priority Indicator Report.

VACS journal articles

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.

Fact sheets

Mozambique Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2022 (data collection 2019)

An overview of data found in Mozambique's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

EN, PT

VACS reports

Mozambique Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2022 (data collection 2019)

Explore the data in Mozambique's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

EN, PT

VACS journal articles

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.

VACS journal articles

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.

VACS journal articles

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.

VACS journal articles

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.

Fact sheets

Namibia: School-related gender-based violence fact sheet

Data on school-related gender-based violence in Namibia.

VACS journal articles

Regional heterogeneity in violence and individual characteristics associated with recent transactional sex among Ugandan girls and young women: A national and regional analysis of data from the Violence Against Children and Youth Survey

This study assessed associations between recent transactional sex among adolescent girls and young women in Uganda.

Fact sheets

Uganda: School-related gender-based violence fact sheet

Data on school-related gender-based violence in Uganda.

Journal environmental research public health

VACS journal articles

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.

National Action Plans

Uganda National Child Policy 2020

The National Child Policy (NCP) demonstrates the commitment by the Government of Uganda to ensure the well-being of all children. It has an institutional mechanism to ensure it is implemented in a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary manner.

VACS journal articles

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.

Fact sheets

Kenya: School-related gender-based violence fact sheet

Data on school-related gender-based violence in Kenya.

Fact sheets

Mozambique: School-related gender-based violence fact sheet

Data on school-related gender-based violence in Mozambique.

EN, PT

Fact sheets

Lesotho: School-related gender-based violence fact sheet

Data on school-related gender-based violence in Lesotho.

Fact sheets

Zimbabwe: School-related gender-based violence fact sheet

Data on school-related gender-based violence in Zimbabwe.

VACS journal articles

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.

VACS journal articles

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.

VACS reports

Lesotho Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2020 (data collection 2018)

Explore the data in Lesotho's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

VACS journal articles

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.

Fact sheets

Kenya Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2020 (data collection 2019)

An overview of the data found in Kenya's 2020 Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

National Action Plans

National Plan of Action to Combat Gender-Based Violence in Malawi 2014–2020

Explore Malawi's Nation Plan of Action to combat gender-based violence.

VACS reports

Kenya Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2020 (data collection 2019)

Explore the data in Kenya's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

Kenya-National-Prevention-Response-Plan-on-VAC

National Action Plans

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.

VACS journal articles

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.

Technical reports

Kenya protecting children against violence: Child friendly booklet

This booklet will give you the tools you need to help SPOT and STOP violence in your home, school and community! You’ll learn the different ways that kids experience violence, and what they, their families, communities, and YOU can do.

Fact sheets

Malawi: School-related gender-based violence fact sheet

Data on school-related gender-based violence in Malawi.

Fact sheets

Zambia: School-related gender-based violence fact sheet

Data on school-related gender-based violence in Zambia.

VACS journal articles

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.

VACS reports

Zimbabwe Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2019 (data collection 2017)

Explore the data in Zimbabwe's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

Fact sheets

Zimbabwe Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2019 (data collection 2017)

An overview of the data found in Zimbabwe's 2019 Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

Priority indicator report from the Mozambique VACS 2019

VACS reports

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).

EN, PT

Fact sheets

Botswana Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2019 (data collection 2015)

An overview of the data from Botswana's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

Case study

Lessons learned from the Together for Girls Partnership in Tanzania

Groundbreaking country-led action from a decade of the partnership’s collective work in Tanzania.

VACS journal articles

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.

VACS journal articles

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.

VACS journal articles

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.

Fact sheets

Zimbabwe Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2017 (data collection 2012)

An overview of the data found in Zimbabwe's 2017 Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

Fact sheets

Rwanda Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2015-2016

An overview of the data found in Rwanda's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

Lesotho country fact sheet 2020 — Lesotho country fact sheet

Fact sheets

Lesotho Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2020 (data collection 2018)

An overview of the data found in Lesotho's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

Fact sheets

Malawi Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2015 (data collection 2013)

An overview of the data found in Malawi's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

VACS reports

Malawi Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2015 (data collection 2013)

Explore the data in Malawi's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

VACS journal articles

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).

VACS journal articles

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.

CDC Morbidity and mortality weekly report report journal

VACS journal articles

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.

VACS journal articles

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.

VACS journal articles

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.

Technical reports

Violence against children and youth with disabilities in Rwanda

Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies journal

VACS journal articles

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.

VACS reports

Uganda Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2018 (data collection 2015)

Explore the data in Uganda's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

Fact sheets

Uganda Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2018 (data collection 2015)

An overview of the data found in Uganda's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

VACS reports

Rwanda Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2018 (data collection 2015)

Explore the data in Rwanda's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

EN, FR

VACS journal articles

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.

Fact sheets

Zambia Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2018 (data collection 2014)

An overview of the data found in Zambia's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

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

National Action Plans

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.

VACS reports

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.

VACS journal articles

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.

VACS journal articles

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.

Second Nation Plan Action Tanzania 2017-2022

National Action Plans

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.

VACS journal articles

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.

VACS journal articles

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.

Video

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.

National Action Plans

National Plan of Action for Vulnerable Children in Malawi 2015-2019

VACS reports

Zambia Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) Report 2018 (data collection 2014)

Explore the data in Zambia's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

Technical reports

National girls’ and young women’s empowerment framework in Zimbabwe

This is the first ever National girls’ and young women’s empowerment framework outlines the government’s commitment to the empowerment of girls and young women through ensuring that they actively and effectively participate at all levels of social, economic, and political development.

VACS journal articles

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.

Technical reports

From research to action: Advancing prevention and response to violence against children

This report summarizes the content and recommendations that emerged from the Global Meeting on Violence against Children in Ezulwini, Swaziland, 2014.

VACS journal articles

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.

2013 National Plan of Action to Prevent and Respond to Violence against Children in Tanzania

National Action Plans

Tanzania: Multi sector national plan of action to prevent and respond to violence against children 2013-2016

Moving from research into action, the Multi-Sector Task Force agreed key “Priority Responses” across a number of sectors to address the problem of violence: the Police, Justice, Education, Health and Social Welfare, HIV and AIDS, Local Government, Community Development, Civil Society and the Religious Community.

Journal of epidemiology and global health

VACS journal articles

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.

VACS reports

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.

VACS reports

Kenya Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2012 (data collection 2010)

Explore the data in Kenya's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

Fact sheets

Kenya Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2012 (data collection 2010)

An overview of data found in Kenya's 2012 Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

Zimbabwe national baseline survey VACS report 2011

Technical reports

Zimbabwe Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2011

The National baseline survey on life experiences of adolescents is the first nationally representative study on violence against children in Zimbabwe.

VACS reports

Tanzania Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2011 (data collection 2009)

Explore the data in Tanzania's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

Fact sheets

Tanzania Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2011 (data collection 2009)

An overview of the data found in Tanzania's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

VACS journal articles

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.

National Action Plans

Kenya Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) summary response plan 2010

Learn about Kenya's response plan to understand how violence happens and provides tools to stop violent behavior before it starts.

VACS journal articles

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.

VACS reports

Eswatini Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2007

Explore the data in Eswatini's Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report.

Blog posts

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Blog

To truly invest in children, Africa’s leaders must invest in what keeps them safe

We are more than halfway to the 2030 deadline for achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, but most African countries are struggling to make sufficient progress. Africa has a chance to meet them by investing in its greatest resource: its young people.

4th February 2024

Blog

How are youth activists using data to fight gender-based violence?

What are the current pathways for youth participation in research? To end gender-based violence issues of intersectionality must be addressed. Critically, all strategies for using data on these intersectional issues must prioritize youth and survivor voices. This is particularly true in both development and humanitarian contexts.

6th July 2023

Blog

Transformative solutions to end school-related gender based violence must centre survivors

Through collective advocacy messaging and political recommendations on the intersections of gender and violence, we can influence the political stakeholders who can enable efforts to end gender-based violence in, around and through schools.

6th July 2023

Blog

Conducting a Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) among humanitarian-affected populations in Uganda

This essay is guest authored by Peter Kisaakye, Francis Obare, George Odwe, Yohannes Wado, and Chi-Chi Undie. Part of Population Council’s Rooted Reflections series, the team share their experiences implementing the first-ever Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (HVACS), gathering vital data about violence against refugee children.

14th August 2022

Blog

Reflections on psychosocial response in the context of research

This essay is guest authored by Chi-Chi Undie, Senior Associate, Population Council and Together for Girls board member. Part of Population Council’s Rooted Reflections series, Chi-Chi shares her experience of implementing the first-ever Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (HVACS), gathering vital data about violence against refugee children.

11th August 2022

Blog

Expanding the possibilities for research in refugee settings in the East and Horn of Africa

This essay is guest authored by Chi-Chi Undie, Senior Associate, Population Council and Together for Girls board member. Part of Population Council’s Rooted Reflections series, Chi-Chi shares her experience of implementing the first-ever Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (HVACS), gathering vital data about violence against refugee children.

10th August 2022

Blog

African governments commit to ending violence against children

On May 11-13, 2022, senior government officials and civil society leaders from over 30 African countries gathered at the Pan-African symposium on violence prevention in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

26th May 2022

Blog

Building the evidence base: AidData’s deep-dive analysis of Zambian school-related gender-based violence

High-quality, disaggregated data on school-related gender-based violence is essential to help drive effective policies and programs for prevention and response.

21st September 2021

Blog

Pioneering the prevention of violence against children in Uganda

In 2015, Uganda’s commitment to implementing the Violence Against Children Surveys (VACS) was motivated by limited pre-existing nationwide data on the prevalence and magnitude of violence against children.

26th July 2021

Young girls smiling_girls health education

Blog

Girls Health Ed: Creating change in and through schools

Girls Health Ed is one organization working in and through schools to address the root causes of gender equality that often lead to violence.

25th October 2020

Young woman in blue and white dress from Colombia

Blog

The transformative power of secondary education in Honduras

24th October 2020

shleigh Howard VACS interviewers in Indonesia before data collection 2013

Blog

Top 10 things you should know about the Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS)

Ashleigh Howard — a global health epidemiologist with expertise in violence and HIV — shares her top 10 things you should know about the Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys.

24th October 2019

Blog

A look back at the first Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) in Eswatini

Launched in 2007, the Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys in Eswatini was the first of its kind and a prototype for surveys to come, focused on sexual, physical, and emotional violence against girls and young women.

7th October 2019

Blog

Lessons learned from the Together for Girls Partnership in Tanzania

Together for Girls released a new case study highlighting groundbreaking country-led action to end violence against children and youth from a decade of the partnership’s collective work in Tanzania.

18th July 2019

Stories

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Young Heroes Session in progress — Sinovuyo participant listening to the Economic Strengthening Facilitators during a session. Credit: Young Heroes

Story

Young Heroes of Eswatini: How parenting support is helping keep children safe

Young Heroes, an Eswatini-based organization working to protect vulnerable children, is contributing to reducing the prevalence of violence against children and adolescents in the country through their parenting program.

Child holding parent's hand — A child holding their parent's hand

Story

Lifeline/Childline Namibia tackles violence prevention through parenting

The National Parents and Caregivers Strategy draws on VAC data to break cycles of violence in Namibia, one family at a time

LVCT DREAMS Kenya march — Advocating for girls' empowerment one step at a time, Guitethia DREAMS site. Credit: Rebecca Musanga, LVCT Health

Story

From DREAMS to reality: empowering adolescent girls in Kenya

Using data from Kenya's Violence Against Children & Youth Surveys (VACS), LVCT Health Kenya implemented local prevention programs to combat the cycle of HIV and violence for high-risk girls.

Linda Kelley PEPFAR KENYA — Linda, grade 8 student. Image credit: PEPFAR Kenya.

Story

Champions for change

The photo exhibition, “Champions for change”, brings together personal stories showcasing how individual action can lead to a collective and forceful nationwide movement against gender-based violence.

Flovian DREAMS project — Flovian, a participant of PEPFAR's DREAM Programme in Kenya.

Story

Girls with DREAMS

Across Kenya, PEPFAR’s DREAMS partnership is supporting young women to lead safe and healthy lives free from HIV.

Story

Visit Kiwohede

Justa “Mama J” Mwaituka and her co-founders created Kiota Women’s Health and Development as a safe “nest” for vulnerable Tanzanian youth.

Story

Girls with DREAMS: Jane

"I now live in my own house and my sisters are back at school. Thank you for giving me hope."

Story

Girls with DREAMS: Angeline

“I am now a rice farmer who is independent and can fight for my rights and those of others.”

Vivian Girls with DREAMS — Vivian, Kenya. Photo courtesy of PEPFAR Kenya.

Story

Girls with DREAMS: Vivian

“I am grateful to be able to afford to buy my medication and earn a living at the same time."

Catherine Girls with DREAMS — Catherine, Kenya. Photo courtesy of PEPFAR Kenya.

Story

Girls with DREAMS: Catherine

“If it weren’t for DREAMS I would be a drop out or a drug addict."

Vyona Girls with DREAMS — Vyona, Kenya. Photo courtesy of PEPFAR Kenya.

Story

Girls with DREAMS: Vyona

"DREAMS gave me a new lease of life – I have my confidence back, I’m independent, and can pay my siblings fees and house rent. I can now live AIDS-free.”

Hellen: Girls with DREAMS — Hellen, Kenya. Photo courtesy of PEPFAR Kenya.

Story

Girls with DREAMS: Hellen

"When my dream of becoming a teacher came true, everyone in my community, including my husband, was very proud."

Story

Girls with DREAMS: Sheila

“I was in a place where I could not be seen but I am now visible."

Rose: Girls with DREAMS — Rose, Kenya. Photo courtesy of PEPFAR Kenya.

Story

Girls with DREAMS: Rose

"I now make hair locks, get paid and save, and hope to have a salon of my own. Getting involved with DREAMS gave me hope and skills to become independent.”

Yurub 1 dreams project kenya — Kenyan DREAMS Programme participant, Yorub. Photo courtesy of PEPFAR Kenya.

Story

Girls with DREAMS: Yorub

"I'm now the breadwinner of my family."

Flovian Kenya DREAMS project music — Flovian, Kenya. Photo courtesy of PEPFAR Kenya.

Story

Girls with DREAMS: Flovian

“I now practice photography as a career and I get jobs and get paid for it."

Sharon Kenya DREAMS project — Sharon, Kenya. Photo courtesy of PEPFAR Kenya.

Story

Girls with DREAMS: Sharon

"DREAMS has transformed me into a salaried, well-respected, and confident young woman.”

Story

Girls with DREAMS: Lavender

"I will never depend on a man for money."

Vida 2 kenya dreams project — Vidah, Kenya. Photo courtesy of PEPFAR Kenya.

Story

Girls with DREAMS: Vidah

“I was able to sit for my national exams and proceed with my nursing course because of DREAMS support.”

Jacinta Kenya DREAMS project — Jacinta, Kenya. Photo courtesy of PEPFAR Kenya.

Story

Girls with DREAMS: Jacinta

“I started my business the moment I met DREAMS."

Trezar Girls with DREAMS — Trezar, Kenya. Photo courtesy of PEPFAR Kenya.

Story

Girls with DREAMS: Trezar

"I have a good job that enables me to take care of my child and family. Thank you DREAMS."

Story

Safe Heroes: Upendo, DREAMS Ambassador, Tanzania

"My life is what I can use to help others, so I have to be a champion. I have to be strong for others.”

Alembe at the Kigamboni Community Centre library — Alembe, coordinator, Kigamboni Community Centre. Photo: Together for Girls/Alexandra Tucci Thomas/TanzaniaPhoto: Together for Girls/Alexandra Tucci Thomas/Tanzania

Story

Safe Heroes: Kigamboni Community Centre, Tanzania

“My dream for these children is for them to reach their own dreams according to their own desires.”

Hancy and Janeth Safe Heroes — Hancy and Janeth, activist, Tanzania. Photo: Together for Girls/Alexandra Tucci Thomas/Tanzania.

Story

Safe Heroes: Janeth and Hancy, activists, Tanzania

“What gives us hope is how we are rescuing these children. If I stop doing this, who will?”

Oliver & Enesi Safe Heroes — Oliver and Enesi, peer educators, Tanzania. Photo: Together for Girls/Alexandra Tucci Thomas/Tanzania.

Story

Safe Heroes: Enesi and Oliver, peer educators, Tanzania

“My request is that we reach more girls all over Tanzania. They need to know that there is a safe space to talk. We’re here.”

Story

Safe Heroes: Janisa, DREAMS Ambassador, Tanzania

“My salon is famous within the community. People are brought to me even if I don’t know them because they know that I am a champion for the victims of sexual violence.”

Dr Fatma Ali Haji_Safe Heroes — Dr Fatma Ali Haji, clinical officer. Photo: Together for Girls/Alexandra Tucci Thomas/Tanzania.

Story

Safe Heroes: Mnazi Mmoja, Zanzibar

“With the one stop center, more victims get the services they need on time, right away."

Safe heroes Ahmed 1 — Ahmed Rashid Ali, UNICEF Child Protection Specialist. Photo: Together for Girls/Alexandra Tucci Thomas/Zanzibar.

Story

Safe Heroes: Ahmed, child protection specialist, Zanzibar

"I started working in violence prevention because I believe that children need to be well-protected to ensure that they can grow and develop."

Police Officer, Janet Masangano Safe Heroes — Janet Masangano, police officer, Tanzania. Photo: Together for Girls/Alexandra Tucci Thomas/Tanzania.

Story

Safe Heroes: Police Gender & Children's Desk, Tanzania

“Children’s issues are not a single person’s responsibility, we all must work in cooperation for the benefit of the child."

Campaigns

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Rita Activist PEPFAR KENYA — Rita Mutheu, business owner and activist for women's rights.

Campaign

Data-driven lessons: ending violence in Kenya

Eddah Kawala and Justa Mama J Mwaituka — Eddah Kawala (standing) and Justa “Mama J” Mwaituka (sitting) are two of the health activists and social workers who started KIWOHEDE in 1998. Although is headquartered in Dar es Salaam, it’s geographical coverage area includes Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Arusha, Singida, Iringa, Mbeya, Ruvuma, Kigoma, Tanga, Shinyanga and Mtwara.

Campaign

Safe Heroes Tanzania

These unsung heroes show us that tackling global problems starts with individual action.

Press releases

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Press Release

The Brave Movement awarded $230,000 USD by UBS Optimus Foundation to support its work to end childhood sexual violence in Africa

This investment will support Brave’s Africa regional platform’s advocacy campaigns to end childhood sexual violence across the continent.

21st February 2024

Press Release

Together for Girls awarded $3 million CAD from the Government of Canada to improve educational outcomes for girls in humanitarian and post-conflict settings

The three-year investment seeks to address barriers to education for girls and adolescent girls in the Northern Triangle, Colombia, and sub-Saharan Africa.

4th April 2023

Press Release

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

15th June 2022

Press Release

New: VACS datasets publicly available for Colombia and Zimbabwe

23rd February 2021

Press Release

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

On July 16, 2020, the Government of Kenya shared their groundbreaking second Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) Report.

15th July 2020

Press Release

Government of Zambia launches Violence Against Children and Youth Survey Report

7th November 2018

Press Release

Uganda launches Violence Against Children Survey findings

13th September 2018

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Policy on domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking and sexual harassment

Eastern and Southern Africa

Resources

Adverse childhood experiences, mental distress, self-harm and suicidality, and cumulative HIV risk by sex in Lesotho

Eswatini Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2022 (data collection 2021)

Exploring children’s formal help-seeking behaviour for violence in Zimbabwe: analysis of national survey and routine service provider data

Cross-time comparison of adverse childhood experience patterns among Kenyan youth: Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys, 2010 and 2019

Eswatini Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) Priority Indicator Report 2022

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

Mozambique Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2022 (data collection 2019)

Mozambique Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2022 (data collection 2019)

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

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

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

Namibia: School-related gender-based violence fact sheet

Regional heterogeneity in violence and individual characteristics associated with recent transactional sex among Ugandan girls and young women: A national and regional analysis of data from the Violence Against Children and Youth Survey

Uganda: School-related gender-based violence fact sheet

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

Uganda National Child Policy 2020

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

Kenya: School-related gender-based violence fact sheet

Mozambique: School-related gender-based violence fact sheet

Lesotho: School-related gender-based violence fact sheet

Zimbabwe: School-related gender-based violence fact sheet

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

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

Lesotho Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2020 (data collection 2018)

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

Kenya Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2020 (data collection 2019)

National Plan of Action to Combat Gender-Based Violence in Malawi 2014–2020

Kenya Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2020 (data collection 2019)

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

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

Kenya protecting children against violence: Child friendly booklet

Malawi: School-related gender-based violence fact sheet

Zambia: School-related gender-based violence fact sheet

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

Zimbabwe Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2019 (data collection 2017)

Zimbabwe Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2019 (data collection 2017)

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

Botswana Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2019 (data collection 2015)

Lessons learned from the Together for Girls Partnership in Tanzania

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

A sex-disaggregated analysis of how emotional violence relates to suicide ideation 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

Zimbabwe Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2017 (data collection 2012)

Rwanda Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2015-2016

Lesotho Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2020 (data collection 2018)

Malawi Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2015 (data collection 2013)

Malawi Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2015 (data collection 2013)

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

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

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

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

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

Violence against children and youth with disabilities in Rwanda

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

Uganda Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2018 (data collection 2015)

Uganda Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2018 (data collection 2015)

Rwanda Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2018 (data collection 2015)

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

Zambia Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) fact sheet 2018 (data collection 2014)

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

T-Watoto survey report on Violence Against Children in Zanzibar

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

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

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

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

Childhood sexual violence against boys: A Study in three countries

Preventing violence against children in Malawi

National Plan of Action for Vulnerable Children in Malawi 2015-2019

Zambia Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) Report 2018 (data collection 2014)

National girls’ and young women’s empowerment framework in Zimbabwe

Preventing sexual violence and HIV in children

From research to action: Advancing prevention and response to violence against children

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

Tanzania: Multi sector national plan of action to prevent and respond to violence against children 2013-2016

A national survey of childhood physical abuse among females in Swaziland

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

Kenya Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) report 2012 (data collection 2010)