Investing in children: the European child maltreatment prevention action plan

Child maltreatment is a hidden form of violence and evidence shows that its prevalence is unacceptably high in the European Region. There are an estimated 860 deaths per year in children under 15 years of age. The prevalence... [ view full abstract ]

Child maltreatment is a hidden form of violence and evidence shows that its prevalence is unacceptably high in the European Region. There are an estimated 860 deaths per year in children under 15 years of age. The prevalence of child maltreatment is much higher, ranging from 22.9% for physical abuse, 29.1% for emotional abuse, and 13.4% for sexual abuse in girls and 5.7% in boys. Child maltreatment is one of the more serious forms of adverse childhood experiences (ACE), and seldom occurs in isolation, but with household dysfunction. The consequences of exposure to ACE manifest themselves through the life-course, resulting in poor physical and mental health and violent behaviour. The risks and evidence base for what works for prevention have been summarised in the European report on preventing child maltreatment. .

There is a need for increased attention by policy makers in the European Region to focus attention on and coordinate action by different disciplines within health and other sectors to tackle this neglected public health issue. In response to this, the WHO Regional Committee for Europe adopted a resolution to implement ‘Investing in children: the European child maltreatment prevention action plan 2015-2020’. Ministries of Health of the 53 countries of the European Region have supported the plan which calls for a 20% reduction in child maltreatment by achieving 3 objectives: 1) Make child maltreatment more visible by setting up information systems, including through periodic surveys 2) Strengthen governance through multisectoral action plans for prevention and 3) Reduce risks for child maltreatment by strengthening health systems and implementing prevention progammes. The Global status report on violence prevention 2014 reported that whereas 80% of European countries have a national policy on child protection, very few actually focus on prevention. Only 60% of these plans have been informed by surveys. Half or less of the countries implement prevention programmes such as home visitation, parenting and training children in sexual abuse prevention. More concerted efforts are needed to implement the European child maltreatment prevention action plan.
i. European report on preventing child maltreatment. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2013
ii. Investing in children: the European child maltreatment prevention action plan 2015-2020 Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2014
iii European facts and the Global status report on violence prevention 2014 Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2014