Primary Navigation for the CDC Website
CDC en Español

Violence Prevention banner

International Violence Prevention Efforts

No country is immune to the devastating physical and emotional effects of violence. Each year, it results in over 1.6 million deaths worldwide-96% of which occur in low- and middle-income countries. Violence is among the leading causes of death in all parts of the world for those ages 15 to 44.

Public health research has contributed greatly to understanding the nature of violence, its root causes, and effective prevention strategies. Numerous studies have identified factors that either increase or reduce the likelihood that a person will be a victim or perpetrator of violence. CDC and its partners use this information to develop and implement programs to prevent violence-related injuries and deaths worldwide.

International Vision
A global community free from violence

International Mission
To collaborate on global efforts to prevent violence by developing and disseminating science-based knowledge and practice

Partnerships

CDC collaborates with a variety of international agencies and institutions to shape global health policies and to develop, implement, and evaluate programs. Some key partners in violence prevention include:


 Activities
 

Monitoring and Tracking the Problem of Violence

Establishing a National Surveillance System in Azerbaijan
CDC is collaborating with the International Medical Corps and the Ministry of Health in Azerbaijan to launch a national injury surveillance system. The system is being designed to track fatal and nonfatal injuries seen in hospital emergency departments and primary health facilities, and by ambulance brigades. It will capture unintentional, environmental, and work-related injuries, and those resulting from interpersonal and self-directed violence.

Establishing Surveillance Systems in Latin America
In collaboration with WHO and PAHO, CDC has established hospital emergency department surveillance systems in Colombia, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.   These systems will track both fatal and nonfatal injuries. Data from these programs help to identify risk factors and to develop injury prevention programs.

Special Issue of Pan American Journal of Public Health on Hospital Emergency Department-based Surveillance Systems in Latin American Countries
CDC and PAHO, with practitioners in several Latin American countries, are developing a special issue of the Pan American Journal of Public Health on hospital emergency department injury surveillance systems. Articles will highlight research findings from these systems, their utility, success stories, and lessons learned from the various countries.

Guidelines for Conducting Community Surveys on Injuries and Violence
CDC collaborated with WHO to develop the Guidelines for Conducting Community Surveys on Injuries and Violence. The Guidelines, published in 2004, provide a methodology for collecting robust, reproducible, and relatively easy-to-obtain injury data in the community.

Injury Surveillance Course
CDC has developed and pilot-tested a course and corresponding manual on creating and maintaining injury surveillance systems in other countries. The course was tested in El Salvador and Nicaragua. Additional courses have been taught in Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Peru.

Injury Surveillance Guidelines
CDC, WHO, and other partners published accepted standards for data collection in 2001, including the Injury Surveillance Guidelines and the International Classification for External Causes of Injuries.

Preventing Sexual Violence against Children in Swaziland 
Swaziland's United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) requested technical assistance from CDC to conduct a national survey in Spring 2007 on sexual violence against females between 13 and 24 years of age. Data from the survey will be used to assess the patterns of sexual and other forms of violence; identify potential risk and protective factors for sexual violence; and assess knowledge and use of health services available for female victims of violence in Swaziland. Findings from the survey will be used to identify further areas for research and to guide strategies to prevent sexual violence against children. CDC, in collaboration with UNICEF, conducted the survey in spring 2007, analyzed the data, and prepared the final report.

The Economic Dimensions of Interpersonal Violence
In 2004, CDC provided technical assistance and funding to WHO to publish a comprehensive literature review titled The Economic Dimensions of Interpersonal Violence. The review recommended the development of a standardized methodology for calculating the economic impact of violence. This would enable research on the economic costs of violence that would be comparable across the many countries where this information is currently unavailable.

The Cost of Interpersonal and Self-Directed Violence
CDC is providing technical assistance and funding to WHO to draft a manual for determining the cost of interpersonal and self-directed violence. Partners include the national ministries of health in Brazil, Jamaica, and Thailand. A final manual that includes pilot case studies should be published in 2008. Next steps include implementing the guidelines in four African countries.

Developing and Evaluating Strategies for Violence Prevention 

Developing National Policies to Prevent Violence and Injuries: a Guideline for Policy-Makers and Planners
In 2006, CDC provided technical assistance and funding to WHO to publish Developing National Policies to Prevent Violence and Injuries: a Guideline for Policy-Makers and Planners. This document provides the rationale for such policies; the importance of the health sector in their development; and the link between national policies and legislation. The Guideline presents a step-by-step process for developing national policies to prevent violence and injuries. Lessons learned from many countries are used throughout the document to highlight specific issues related to policy development.

Handbook for the Documentation of Interpersonal Violence Prevention Programs
CDC worked with WHO to develop the Handbook for the Documentation of Interpersonal Violence Prevention Programs. The Handbook, which documents proven and promising prevention strategies, was recently pilot tested in Brazil, India, Jamaica, Jordan, Macedonia, Mozambique, the Russian Federation, and South Africa. A database has been developed and narratives for violence prevention activities have been completed in seven of the eight countries. The final Handbook will include country summaries and an aggregate report. A screening tool to examine evidence-based programs and outcome evaluations will be created in the future. Documents will be developed to assist countries with limited experience in evaluation.   

Preventing Child Maltreatment: a Guide to Taking Action and Generating Evidence
CDC provided technical assistance and funding to WHO to develop Preventing Child Maltreatment: a Guide to Taking Action and Generating Evidence, which was launched in October 2006. The Guide provides technical assistance around the development of policies and programs for child maltreatment prevention that uses a scientific, evidence-based approach and public health principles. It is currently being piloted in Brazil, Jordan, and the Philippines, where three-year, child maltreatment prevention project proposals are nearing completion.

Preventing Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence
WHO began to increase its prevention efforts in domestic violence following the publication of its multi-country study on the topic. With technical assistance and funding from CDC, WHO is developing a framework for preventing intimate partner and sexual violence, similar to that created for child maltreatment. The first consultation meeting with experts in the field was held in May 2007. Future plans include three pilot demonstration projects built around the framework.

Violence against Women: the Health Sector Responds
CDC participated in the evaluation of PAHO's Integrated Response to Intimate Partner Violence in Central America. PAHO published the findings in Violence against Women: the Health Sector Responds in 2003. The report included lessons learned from Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.

Violence Prevention in Colombia
Through a partnership with the School of Public Health at the University of Antioquia, CDC provides technical assistance to the city of Medellin, Colombia and its 10 surrounding municipalities in the selection, development, and evaluation of evidence-based strategies for the prevention of violence against children ages 3-11.

Supporting and Enhancing Violence Prevention Efforts

Inter-American Coalition for the Prevention of Violence
As a member of the Inter-American Coalition for the Prevention of Violence, CDC is working to reduce violence in the Americas by developing and monitoring key indicators; conducting seminars and workshops; offering technical assistance in the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs; and by providing information to policy-makers.

Institute of Medicine Meeting
In June 2007, CDC played a key role in the Institute of Medicine's Workshop on Violence Prevention in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. The purpose of this workshop was to build the public health and business case for greater investment by U.S. agencies and foundations in violence prevention in such countries.

Mentoring VIP
WHO, with technical assistance and funding from CDC, is establishing a Global Mentoring Program (Mentoring VIP) to facilitate skill development in injury and violence prevention research and programming. This mentoring program will be implemented in a low-cost, electronic format. The 12-month program began in September 2007, with a two-year pilot phase. In the first year, 15 mentor-student pairs will be recruited, with the ultimate goal of 100 pairs in the first five years. Each pair will develop a work and communication plan six weeks after being matched. The program includes an evaluation component. 

Nicaragua Self-Directed Violence Prevention Plan
CDC is working with the Center for Demographic and Health Research at the University of Nicaragua to develop a comprehensive plan to prevent youth suicide. The plan includes school- and community-based prevention efforts, mental health screening and referral, and post-intervention activities.

TEACH-VIP
WHO, with technical and financial assistance from CDC, developed TEACH-VIP, a training course on injury and violence prevention. The course is taught in 63 countries and is available electronically worldwide. It has been translated into Spanish and Portuguese and will soon be translated into Arabic, Mandarin, Russian, and French. Future plans include the development of a web-based version of the training and injury-specific lessons on disability and rehabilitation, injury policy, and advocacy. 

The World Report on Violence and Health
CDC staff served as editors of the World Report on Violence and Health. The Report is the first comprehensive review of violence on a global scale and shows that a science-based public health approach focused on prevention can contribute to reducing violence. It encourages governments to develop and implement a national plan of action for violence prevention; to enhance data collection and research capacity; to promote primary prevention responses; and to strengthen emergency response systems and services for victims of violence. Through the work of WHO, more than 50 countries had national launches of the Report and more than 25 countries have developed plans of action for violence prevention based on its recommendations.

Violence Prevention Alliance
CDC is a core partner in the Violence Prevention Alliance-a network of WHO member states, governments, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, private, international, and intergovernmental agencies working to prevent violence. The Alliance works to develop policies, programs, and tools to implement the recommendations of the World Report on Violence and Health in communities, regions, countries and around the world.

Global Campaign for Violence Prevention: Milestone Meetings
The Global Campaign for Violence Prevention was launched after the release of the World Report on Violence and Health in 2002. The objectives of the campaign are to raise awareness about the problem of violence; highlight the crucial role that public health can play in addressing its causes and consequences; and encourage action at every level of society. Every other year, WHO, with financial and technical assistance from CDC, organizes Milestone Meetings that allow countries to showcase how they have implemented recommendations from the Report. The third meeting held in 2007 served as a platform for discussing scaled-up, country-level implementation and efforts to measure effectiveness, such as looking at rates for violence-related deaths, nonfatal injuries, and other violence-related health conditions over time.

Violence Prevention Atlas of WHO-related Activities
CDC is supporting the development of the Violence Prevention Atlas of WHO-Related Activities. This Atlas will allow countries to discover the violence-related activities of others. In addition, it will keep WHO abreast of violence prevention activities and of the best strategies for using limited resources. 

Resources


Reports

Guidelines, Training, and Manuals

Peer-Reviewed Chapters and Journal Articles

  • Dahlberg LL. Public health and violence: moving forward in a global context. In: Flannery DJ, Vazsonyi AT, Waldman ID, editors. The Cambridge Handbook of Violent Behavior. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press; 2007. p. 465-485.
  • Dahlberg LL, Butchart A. State of the science: violence prevention efforts in developing and developed countries. International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion 2005;12(2):93-104.
  • Dahlberg LL, Krug EG. Violence - a global public health problem. In: Krug EG, Dahlberg LL, Mercy JA, Zwi AB, Lozano R, editors. World report on violence and health. Geneva (Switzerland): World Health Organization; 2002:1-21.      
  • Mercy JA, Butchart A, Dahlberg LL, Zwi A, Krug EG. Violence and mental health: perspectives from the World Health Organization's World Report on Violence and Health. International Journal of Mental Health 2003;32(1):20-35.
  • Mercy JA, Dahlberg LL. Adolescent violence: is it the same everywhere? Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 2004;158(6):592-594.
  • Mercy JA, Krug EG, Dahlberg LL, Zwi AB. Violence and health: the United States in global perspective. American Journal of Public Health 2003;93(2):256-261.
  • Krug EG, Dahlberg LL, Mercy JA, Zwi AB, Wilson A. The way forward: recommendations for action. In: Krug EG, Dahlberg LL, Mercy JA, Zwi AB, Lozano R, editors. World report on violence and health. Geneva (Switzerland): World Health Organization; 2002:241-254.
  • Krug EG, Dahlberg LL, Powell KE. Childhood homicide, suicide, and firearm deaths: an international comparison. World Health Statistics Quarterly 1997; 49(3/4):230-235.
  • Krug EG, Mercy J, Dahlberg LL, Powell KE. Firearm and nonfirearm‑related homicide among children: an international comparison. Homicide Studies 1998; 2(1):83-95.
  • Krug EG, Mercy JA, Dahlberg LL, Zwi AB. The world report on violence and health. The Lancet 2002;5(360):1083-1088.

  • Krug EG, Powell KE, Dahlberg LL. Firearm-related deaths in the United States and 35 other high- and upper-middle income countries. International Journal of Epidemiology 1998;27(2):214-221.


 

* Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.
Content Source: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Violence Prevention
Page last modified: February 12, 2008