INSPIRE Handbook: Action for implementing the seven strategies for ending violence against children

Approximately 1 billion children are subjected to violence across the globe each year. The costs of such widespread violence are immense; exposure to violence is associated with effects on brain function, psychological well-being, noncommunicable diseases, infectious disease, and social functioning. The global community has committed to ending violence against children, and combat these subsequent effects, through the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Target 16.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In 2016, a cohort of 10 global organisations collaborated to produce INSPIRE: Seven strategies for ending violence against children, the first-ever global technical package for preventing and responding to violence against children.  Building on the Technical Package, the INSPIRE Handbook details seven strategies for policy-makers, practitioners, and funders to improve their prevention programmes and services to reduce violence against children. The strategies focus on seven different areas:

1. Implementation and enforcement of the law

2. Norms and values

3. Safe environments

4. Parent and caregiver support

5. Income and economic strengthening

6. Response and support services

7. Education and life skills

It also includes two cross-cutting activities: (1) Multisectoral actions and coordination, and (2) Monitoring and evaluation.