Violence Against Children: A Hidden Driver of Lifelong Inequity
About one in two children worldwide experience violence each year — most often at home. Why this is a public health issue, not just a criminal justice one.
A note before you read: this post discusses violence against children, including sexual abuse, and includes statistics some readers may find difficult. If you or a child you know is currently in danger, please contact emergency services. Resources for support are listed at the end of this post.
For a fuller discussion of how we overspend on medicine compared to other government functions, see [Where Do Our Tax Dollars Go?]
In this series, we have explored how early life conditions — poverty, housing, and food insecurity — shape health across the lifespan. Another critical, and often less visible, upstream factor is violence against children.
Violence is a complex and deeply harmful phenomenon. It includes physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. And its reach is far greater than many of us are comfortable acknowledging.
Globally, about one in two children experience some form of violence each year. Even more troubling, two in three experience violence regularly within their own homes — the very places where they should feel safest.
The Scale and Severity of Harm
The consequences of violence against children are profound and, in many cases, life-threatening.
They include:
- Physical injury and disability
- Mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and trauma
- Sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy
- Developmental and behavioural difficulties
- And, at times, death
Every four minutes, a child dies somewhere in the world as a result of violence.
Sexual violence alone affects staggering numbers of children. Globally, approximately one in four or one in five girls experiences sexual assault each year. For boys, the estimates range from one in seven to one in eleven. Boys, meanwhile, are more likely to die as a result of violent acts in general.
Violence is not only destructive in the moment — it is also cyclical. Children who experience violence are more likely to engage in or be exposed to violent interactions later in life, perpetuating harm across generations.
A Canadian Reality
While these global figures are alarming, Canada is not immune.
In 2019 alone, approximately 70,000 children in Canada were victims of violence serious enough to involve police. The majority — about 57% — were girls.
Much of this violence occurs close to home:
- About one-third of incidents involve parents
- Approximately 15% occur between siblings
These are not distant or isolated events. They are happening within families and communities across the country.
Beyond Immediate Injury
When a child is physically harmed, the medical system often becomes involved. But the visible injuries are only part of the story.
All children who experience violence are at risk of long-term health consequences, including:
- Chronic stress and its biological effects
- Increased risk of mental illness
- Challenges with learning and social development
- Higher likelihood of substance use and risky behaviours
- Long-term impacts on physical health
As we have discussed throughout this series, early adversity shapes lifelong outcomes. Violence is one of the most powerful and damaging forms of that adversity.
Violence as an Upstream Health Issue
Too often, violence is treated as a criminal justice issue alone. While legal responses are essential, they are not sufficient.
From an upstream health perspective, violence against children often is a preventable risk factor — one that must be addressed at its roots.
This means looking beyond individual incidents and asking:
- What conditions increase the risk of violence?
- What supports can reduce stress within families?
- How can communities create safer environments for children?
Violence does not occur in a vacuum. It is closely linked to many of the other issues we’ve explored — poverty, housing instability, and social isolation.
Connecting Back to Upstream Health
If we are serious about improving population health, we cannot ignore violence against children.
It is a moral issue and a foundational health issue.
What Can and Is Being Done
In Chicago, they are replacing guns and education with jobs. Over four years, in communities where the program has been introduced, rates of gun violence have decreased 33%.1 In Milwaukee, they are framing gun violence as a public health issue. This is called 414LIFE, and it endeavours to root out the first signs of violence — like immediate action at the first signal of an infectious disease spreading.2
What Can You Do
Learn about conflict resolution skills.
If this post raised anything difficult for you:
- Kids Help Phone (Canada, ages up to 20, 24/7, confidential): call 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868
- If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency services
- To report suspected abuse or access support in your province, contact your local child welfare services
