A Five-year Campaign To Eliminate Violence Against Children by World Vision

PHNOM PENH – More than 75% of children have experienced at least one form of violence before being fully grown, according to World Vision’s report.

World Vision and the government of Cambodia, dated Monday, launched a five-year campaign to eradicate violence against children at home and school.

“Violence against children not only has a negative impact on their development, but also our society as a whole if we do not pay enough attention to this issue,” Leng Vireak, World Vision’s Associate Operations Director said during the launch of the “It Takes a World” campaign.

“It Takes a World” is a part of five-year global campaign aims to end violence against children, which collaborates with relevant authorities to include education and implementation of law. This campaign reflects the idea to end violence against children, it requires the commitment from everyone around the world, because nobody is capable to do it alone.

The five-year campaign aims to eradicate violence against children at home and school.  

According to World Vision, more than 75 percent of children, before the age of 18, experience at least one form of violence, with more than 50 percent are abused physically, 25 percent physiologically, and 5 percent sexually.

Cambodia, in 2013, had experienced the economic loss of health consequences of violence against children totaled US $161 million, accounting for 1.06% of the country’s GDP, according to UNICEF.

The government and local officials are working together to institute national policies that can help ensure the livelihood of children, said Secretary of State of the Ministry of Social Affairs, H.E. Khiev Borey.

“Coordination and commitment by all government ministries and local authorities, as well as development partners and civil society, are needed to find the solutions for the issue,” she said.

The campaign needs participation from everyone around the world