Faith Communities' Contribution to Ending Violence against Children

Faith leaders, their spouses and faith communities play a critical role in shaping community social norms and catalysing shifts in attitudes and behaviours that can protect children more effectively.

Channels of Hope for Child Protection (CoH CP) is a World Vision attitude and social norm change project model that works specifically with faith leaders, their spouses, and faith communities to strengthen the protective environment and end violence against children.

Between 2016-2021, World Vision partnered with Queen Margaret University and Columbia University to study how CoH for CP equips faith leaders and faith communities in Senegal, Uganda, and Guatemala to take action to reduce violence in their local communities and at higher levels of society.

Channels of Hope for Child Protection motivated faith leaders and their spouses to protect children

+24%

Increased opposition to child marriage

+40%

Increased opposition to corporal punishment

+54%

Increased willingness to report child abuse

Research Brief: Discover what Channels of Hope for Child Protection can do

Read the research brief to learn more about how Channels of Hope for Child Protection changed attitudes and mobilised faith leaders, their spouses, and faith communities to better protect children from violence.

I used to hit my children. Thanks to World Vision and Channels of Hope, I listened to those topics where they mentioned that we should not hit our kids. I asked for their forgiveness. I used to hit my kids, not anymore.

Faith Leader, Jocotán, Guatemala

Thematic Briefs: Learn more about the impact of the research

Challenging Harmful Behaviours Using Religious Texts

Research finds that engagement with religious texts was key in mobilising faith leaders to improve the lives of children.

Community Hope Action Teams Drive Change

Research shows how engaged and motivated faith communities can make big changes for children in their communities.

Faith Leaders and Spouses Contribute to Ending Violence

Research shows how CoH for CP strengthened the protective environment for children in the intervention communities.

Perspectives from Local Faith Leaders

Listen to local faith leaders from Senegal, Guatemala, and Uganda about the new perspective they have on their sacred religious texts due to Channels of Hope for Child Protection. See how they are interpreting these texts for increased child protection.

Links to Academic Articles and Publications Featuring the Research

Child Protection Practices and Attitudes of Faith Leaders Across Senegal, Uganda, and Guatemala | The Review of Faith and International Affairs, Volume 19, Issue 1

“When a child has not made 18 years and you marry her off … don’t bother to invite me! I will not come”: the role and involvement of faith leaders’ wives in child protection issues | International Development and Local Faith Actors: Ideological and Cultural Encounters, Edited by Kathryn Kraft and Olivia J. Wilkinson (Full book here)

Learn More about Channels of Hope for Child Protection

Learn more about World Vision's Channels of Hope for Child Protection model and how we engage Faith Leaders, their spouses, and faith communities in the work to end violence against children.

"Imam talked to people on the dangers of marrying off children. It used to be allowed in our Muslim faith, and nowadays it is prohibited. Recently, they brought back a child who they rescued from marriage."

Girl, Rakai, Uganda

A System's Approach to Child Protection

World Vision uses a systems approach to address root causes of violence against girls and boys by empowering key actors to work together to create a protective environment that cares for and supports all children, especially the most vulnerable.