Prevention of violence

Definition

• Violence is defined by the World Health

Organization as the intentional use of
physical force or power, threatened or
actual, against a person, or against a group
or community, that either results in or has a
high likelihood of resulting in injury, death,
psychological harm, maldevelopment or
deprivation.
 Impact

• Study suggest:
• Globally, violence takes the lives of more
than 1.5 million people annually
• 50% due to suicide
• 35% due to homicide, and
• 12% as a direct result of war or some other
form of conflict.
 Types
• Self-directed violence
– Self-directed violence is subdivided into suicidal
behavior and self-abuse
• Interpersonal violence
– Interpersonal violence is divided into two
subcategories: Family and intimate partner violence –
that is, violence largely between family members and
intimate partners
• Collective violence
– Collective violence is subdivided into social, political
and economic violence
 Consequences and costs
• Beyond deaths and injuries, highly prevalent
forms of violence (such as child maltreatment and
intimate partner violence) have serious lifelong
non-injury health consequences.
• Victims may engage in high-risk behaviours such
as alcohol and substance misuse, smoking, and
unsafe sex, which in turn can contribute to
cardiovascular disorders, cancers, depression,
diabetes and HIV/AIDS, resulting in premature
death.
 Causes of violence
• The first level identifies biological and personal
factors that influence how individuals behave and
increase their likelihood of becoming a victim or
perpetrator of violence.
• The second level focuses on close relationships,
such as those with family and friends.
• The third level explores the community context—
i.e., schools, workplaces, and neighbourhoods.
• The fourth level looks at the broad societal factors
that help to create a climate in which violence is
encouraged or inhibited.
 Prevention
• Developing safe, stable and nurturing relationships
between children and their parents and caregivers
• Developing life skills in children and adolescents
• Reducing the availability and harmful use of alcohol
• Reducing access to guns
• Promoting gender equality and challenging gender
norms and roles to prevent violence against women
• Changing cultural and social norms that support
violence
• Victim identification, care and support programmes
 Stop Violence

Thank you