Less than 1% of international aid money is used to end violence against children, according to new report
- Just over USD$500 million (less than USD$1 per child and 0.9% of total development investments), went directly towards ending violence against children between 2017 and 2018
- Over one billion children experience violence every year, costing world economies between USD$2 trillion to USD$7 trillion annually
- World Vision estimated that 85 million extra children are at risk of violence because of the impacts of Covid-19 ·
A new report published today by World Vision International, in partnership with four other aid agencies, finds that ending violence against children remains alarmingly underfunded, despite one billion children experiencing violence each year, costing world economies up to USD$7 trillion annually.
Counting Pennies II, published today by World Vision International and partnering aid agencies including UNICEF, Save the Children, Plan International, and ChildFund Alliance, reveals that less than USD$2 billion in total was invested in causes relating to ending violence against children, with only USD$511 million (less than USD$1 per child) towards specific projects to tackle violence against children.
More positively, researchers also found that since the initial report Counting Pennies I, published in 2017, investment into ending violence against children has increased by 67%.
Andrew Morley, World Vision International President & CEO, said: “While we welcome increases in funding to tackle violence against children, this still means under one per cent of overseas aid funding is committed to this cause. There is a long road ahead to end violence against children and we challenge leaders to do more.
“COVID-19 has caused untold harm on children’s safety and wellbeing, and adds the potential of leaving up to 85 million more children at risk of violence. With more than a billion children worldwide already facing violence, anyone who reads this report will be left in no doubt about the scale of the problem. The figures shown in this report prove there is not only a huge and heart-breaking personal cost to children and their futures – but also to society as a whole.”
Counting Pennies II calls on donors to increase funding to end violence against children in humanitarian and non-humanitarian settings. An estimated 80% of services to address violence against children have been disrupted during the coronavirus pandemic, exacerbating an already existing need to scale up child protection. The report also recommends that the global community should collaborate to produce of a defined method for tracking investments into ending violence against children in order to increase clarity and transparency for all.
Mr Morley concluded: “World leaders must seize the opportunity to build back better, and to eradicate the scourge of violence against children once and for all, ensuring that children everywhere can reach their God-given potential.”
ENDS.
Note to editor
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