Every child deserves safety, yet millions face violence daily. An estimated 1 billion children—half of all the children in the world—are victims of violence every year, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. With the recently concluded first-ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, the United States (U.S.) has a historic chance to turn the tide.

Violence against children is a pervasive global issue, with millions of children experiencing physical, sexual, and emotional harm annually. For the U.S., childhood sexual violence and violence against children more broadly remains a pressing concern domestically and globally.

A national blueprint for change

The U.S. faces several challenges in its efforts to address violence against children. Advocates are pushing for a unified action plan that integrates domestic and global policies grounded in evidence and survivor voices. The plan includes stronger laws, survivor councils, and investments in data systems like Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS) to guide prevention, healing, and justice.

A fragmented approach to addressing violence against children has resulted in limited coordination between domestic and foreign policies. While the issue is acknowledged, the lack of a coherent national action plan has hindered efforts to integrate violence prevention and response across sectors. Advocacy organizations have called for bold measures, such as issuing a Presidential Memorandum to prioritize child protection, institutionalizing child impact assessments, and consistently defining “best interest of the child” standards within federal programs.

Themes and advocacy efforts driving progress

Together for Girls, the Brave Movement, and Keep Kids Safe have driven U.S. action on violence against children. These organizations have engaged with high-level policymakers, including the White House Gender Policy Council and Domestic Policy Council, members of Congress, and key government agency focal points to advance a comprehensive child protection agenda.

Some of the key advocacy initiatives carried out in the U.S. include:

Introduction of the national blueprint to end sexual violence:

Developed in consultation with survivors to provide a roadmap to deliver prevention, healing, and justice solutions to end sexual violence using evidence-based approaches through U.S. domestic and global policies and programs.

Capitol Hill advocacy:

The Keep Kids Safe day of action facilitated dialogue with bipartisan representatives to secure commitments for sustained funding and legislative priorities related to VAC.

Ministerial Conference advocacy and preparation:

A listening session hosted by Together for Girls and members of the EVAC Task Force facilitated discussion regarding ways to accelerate progress toward ending violence against children in the U.S. and globally. Participants included survivor-leaders of the Global Survivor Council, U.S. government departments, agencies, bureaus, and offices engaged in child protection efforts, and representatives of coalitions and organizations spanning the child protection sector, both domestic and global. The listening session was the result of calls to action from civil society and Members of Congress requesting that the U.S. government engage and make robust commitments.

The session culminated in a package of priority recommendations that influenced U.S. pledges at the Ministerial Conference and called for:

Setting up a National Survivors’ Council to ensure that those with lived experience play a central role in informing the development of policies and initiatives that improve the federal response to violence against children.
Establishing a cohesive national action plan that spans domestic and foreign policy on children and youth with violence prevention and response as a core pillar.
Prioritizing federal investments that support critical domestic and global child protection and violence prevention and response programs.
Launching a Presidential Memorandum that includes key elements to build out federal infrastructure to prioritize child protection, such as integrating child impact statements across U.S. policies and programs, tracking children and youth-related federal spending, and improving coordination and efficacy around VAC measurement and evidence generation.

These efforts have increased visibility around violence against children and underscored the importance of survivor voices in shaping policies and programs.

The role of data in accelerating progress

Access to high-quality data, such as the VACS, has proven critical in understanding the prevalence and drivers of violence. In the U.S., advocacy efforts have raised awareness about VACS and highlighted its importance in informing targeted interventions.

However, funding challenges threaten the sustainability of these data-collection efforts. Advocates have successfully spurred congressional interest, resulting in short-term solutions and the establishment of a working group to explore long-term strategies for VAC measurement, a priority recommendation made by civil society representatives and survivor leaders ahead of the Ministerial Conference.

A bold commitment to end violence

Bama Athreya, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Acting USG Special Advisor for Children in Adversity, Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships, and Innovation (IPI)/Inclusive Development (ID) at USAID

Advocacy efforts, from engaging with the White House to convening survivor-led listening sessions, establishing survivor councils, addressing gender inequality, combating technology-enabled harm, and supporting survivor services, significantly influenced U.S. pledges at the just-ended Global Ministerial Conference on Ending VAC.

Here are some of the pledges the U.S. made at the Global Ministerial Conference:

National Survivors’ Council

The establishment of a National Survivors’ Council, modeled after the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, and informed by civil society. This council will elevate survivor perspectives, ensuring their lived experiences inform violence against children prevention strategies, response efforts, and policy development for both domestic and foreign assistance efforts. Survivor engagement is essential for designing impactful solutions, highlighting the urgency of giving survivors a seat at the table.

Parent and caregiver support

A cornerstone of the commitment is scaling up evidence-based parenting programs that:

Promote nurturing and gender-equitable family relationships.
Address mental health challenges and reduce family conflict.
Provide holistic social protection to enhance financial stability and safety for families.

These plans will strengthen social service systems by investing in workforce development, enhancing collaboration across sectors, and improving data systems to identify and address risks facing children.

Addressing online harms

With the growing prevalence of technology-facilitated violence, the U.S. is taking decisive action to protect children online by:

Introducing digital safety curricula in schools.
Training law enforcement, educators, and advocates to address cyberstalking, sextortion, and child exploitation.
Supporting research to guide evidence-based interventions and combat online misogyny and hate.

These efforts align with the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse, emphasizing the U.S.’ commitment to preventing technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

Emergency response and family care

During a crisis, children are particularly vulnerable to violence and exploitation. The U.S. has pledged to:

Provide safe, inclusive environments for children in humanitarian settings.
Prevent family separation and prioritize family-based care over institutional settings.
Strengthen family tracing and reunification mechanisms to support displaced or unaccompanied children.

A call to action

The U.S. must lead with bold actions to protect every child, inspire global change, and build a violence-free future, seizing this moment to commit to bold, measurable actions that prioritize child safety, integrate survivor voices, and foster cross-sectoral collaboration.

The fight to end violence against children requires all of us—governments, civil society, and individuals—to work together.

By investing in evidence-based solutions, addressing the root causes of violence, and supporting comprehensive data initiatives, the U.S. can lead the charge in creating a world where every child is safe.

The time for action is now. Together, we can ensure children are safe from violence and grow up in dignity.

Ending violence against children: a bold vision for US leadership

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