GESI reference guide: GESI & Child Protection

Over 1 billion children experience violence every year, costing the world US$7 trillion — significantly more than the cost of preventing such violence. Violence against children encompasses physical, psychological, and sexual harm inflicted on both girls and boys. According to the World Health Organization, violence is the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or a group, resulting in or highly likely to result in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation. Child Protection is one of World Vision’s five global sectors, focused on preventing and responding to abuse, neglect, exploitation, and all forms of violence against children, particularly the most vulnerable. The most vulnerable children are those affected by extreme deprivation and violations of their rights, with the most at risk having two or more vulnerability factors. Gender norms, harmful traditional practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation, and social exclusion contribute to heightened risks, especially for girls and boys in fragile, conflict-affected settings. Mainstreaming Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in child protection is essential to address the widespread exploitation, abuse, and violence children face.