Ending violence and abuse
All forms of violence and abuse damage children’s happiness, security and safety, sometimes for life. Save the Children works to end violence and abuse against children.

'Sifa' in a children rehabilitation centre in Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo: Anna Kari

'Sifa' in a children rehabilitation centre in Democratic Republic of Congo

'Sifa' (name changed) is 15 years old. She has experienced some of the worst situations that can confront a girl during war. She was abducted and sexually violated by combatants in an armed group, and now has a one-year-old son. She also fought as a soldier. Now, thanks to a child transit centre funded by Save the Children, she has been reunited with her parents in Ituri district, Orientale Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
 

Children often suffer from multiple forms of violence or abuse. The resulting stigma and shame can isolate children from their families and communities.

Save the Children works to protect children from violence, physical and sexual abuse and other harmful experiences. We seek to prevent abuse and help children recover.

Child soldiers

More than 300,000 child soldiers, some as young as eight, are involved in armed conflicts around the world. Save the Children has helped demobilise and rehabilitate more than 60,000 former child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka and Liberia.

Serge (not his real name), from the Democratic Republic of Congo is unsure of his age. He was demobilised by Save the Children. When he arrived at our child transit centre he was very sick, traumatised and anti-social. Now he is healthy, open and friendly.

“I was at school when combatants came. They selected boys and took us. Many among us died during the training. But God helped me. I was only wounded.

“I was in a Congolese armed faction for one year. In Beni, another armed group captured us. If someone seemed scared they would kill them, saying that a soldier couldn’t be scared. I cannot tell you how many people I killed. We fought all the time. We suffered a lot.

“I want to be reunited with my family in Bunia. I want to be a mechanic.”

Daily violence

Armed children as young as seven sell drugs in the favelas (shanty towns) of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Over 100 people, mostly aged 15–24, are shot dead every day in the city. Monica, aged 17, lives in a favela with her parents and older brother. She is not involved in the drugs trade, but she knows of several children who have been shot dead. Monica (below) faces violence every day.

“The violence is horrible. But as I live here I am very used to it, and I don’t let it affect me that much.”

Monica has trained to become a talented boxer at Viva Rio’s sport and education centre, supported by Save the Children. As well as providing a safe environment and life skills for young people, Viva Rio has collected and destroyed over 450,000 guns in recent years.

“I felt there were situations where I needed to be able to defend myself. Some people often try to start fights unprovoked. Boxing is peaceful and there are no victims. It makes me calm, teaches me discipline and self-control.”