Preventing Youth Violence: An overview of the evidence

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 200,000 homicides occur worldwide each year among youth and young adults aged 10-29 years, which makes homicide the fourth leading cause of death in this age group.

This manual provides information and data on what is known about the prevalence and consequences of youth violence, the underlying risk factors, and scientific studies on the effectiveness of youth violence prevention efforts. The manual provides an overview of current evidence for what works to prevent youth violence. It is intended to be used by policy- and decision-makers in governments, civil society organizations and other institutions that implement or are interested in implementing youth violence prevention programmes. Different sectors will find this manual useful: ministries responsible for providing health, legal and social services; the criminal justice and education sectors; ministries of the interior; and other authorities involved in reducing or regulating youth violence risk and prevention factors.