every child has the right to a life without violence!

Violence against women and girls is one of the most common human rights violations. It puts women’s lives in danger, endangers the physical and mental health of those affected and leaves deep marks on children. In its most extreme form, femicide, it even costs the lives of women and girls. Violence against women not only affects those affected themselves, but also reinforces spirals of violence that affect the next generation and society as a whole. The perpetrators are people from all social and economic backgrounds. The majority of them are male. Violence against women also has serious consequences for children: children are silent observers of violence and suffer from the atmosphere of fear and insecurity.

“All children have the right to grow up free of violence! The dignity of the child must always be protected! It is very important to recognize and break the spirals of violence so that they are not passed on. This starts with children“, says Christian Moser, Managing Director of SOS Children’s Villages.

SOS Children’s Villages takes measures worldwide so that girls and women can live without fear

Gender-based violence has a huge impact on the youngest members of our society: violence is one of the main reasons why families are separated. This is the finding of a global study carried out on behalf of SOS Children’s Villages, which examined the causes of family separations in eight countries in all regions of the world. Accordingly, domestic and gender-specific violence as well as socially anchored structures of violence are serious factors. These factors were identified in all countries examined – in the Global South as well as in the Global North. Of the 228 professionals who took part in the study, more than 40 percent believed that children were often removed from their families due to domestic violence. (Source: Global Report https://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/publications/research-and-positions/global-report)

SOS Children’s Villages works worldwide against gender-specific violence and for children to grow up free of violence, for example as part of the Grow Equal project in Ethiopia and Uganda. Survivors of gender-based violence can benefit from various interventions through the program, such as psychological counseling, medication, referral to the legal system and financial support. In workshops with community members and traditional leaders, harmful norms and behaviors such as violence against women are reconsidered and broken down. Because non-violence is essential for a well-functioning family life.

„There are various approaches to including men in our projects. Because violence affects us all! There is no excuse for violence and we will not tolerate it! We want to create a world in which girls and women can live without fear,” so Moser.

Every support counts

The SOS Children’s Villages projects represent a world in which every child can grow up without fear and violence. Help and support a world where violence has no place.

Further information at:

https://www.sos-kinderdorf.at/helfen-sie-mit/spenden/hilfsprojekte/afrika/grow-equal

Donation account:
SOS Children’s Villages

IBAN: AT62 1600 0001 0117 3240
Password: Grow Equal