Data-driven efforts to end violence against children
USAID is one of several development partners working to support countries to measure prevalence of violence against children through nationally representative Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS), and then to utilize their survey data to develop national strategies to address, prevent, and ultimately end violence against children. VACS measure the burden of sexual, physical, and emotional violence experienced in childhood and adolescence among males and females between the ages of 13-24. HEARD, with funding from USAID’s Displaced Children and Orphan’s Fund (DCOF), is working to ensure that the data on violence against children generated by VACS is driving action on the ground. HEARD is working to develop learning resources based on country experiences, provide direct support to country responses to VACS data, and disseminate learning. Through this learning documentation and strengthening knowledge sharing across stakeholders, HEARD’s efforts in this area will result in resources that Governments and their partners can leverage in acting on VACS data to develop and fund effective national action policies and programs.