This report and briefing presents the main findings of a report commissioned by ChildFund Alliance, exploring the economic impacts and costs of violence against children. It presents a summary of the available evidence from different countries and provides some estimates of the global costs of violence and exploitation against children.
The annual global costs of the worst forms of child labour are approximately $97 billion, and those resulting from children’s association with armed forces or groups can be up to $144 million annually. The evidence clearly shows that ‘prevention pays’, but current levels of government spending on preventive and responsive actions in relation to violence against children remain very low. Research and advocacy efforts need to continue, with a focus on promoting good practices for prevention. Funding for this should be scaled up.