In Latin America and the Caribbean, violence continues to pose a serious threat to the lives, health, and well-being of children, adolescents, and young people, according to a new joint report by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and UNICEF. The report highlights that between 2015 and 2022, over 53,000 children and adolescents were victims of homicide, underscoring the deadly consequences of violence in the region.
Recent data focusing on adolescents aged 15 to 17 show contrasting trends by sex. While the homicide rate among adolescent boys declined from 17.63 to 10.68 deaths per 100,000 between 2021 and 2022, it more than doubled among adolescent girls, increasing from 2.13 to 5.1 deaths per 100,000. These homicides are often linked to rising armed violence, organized crime, widespread access to firearms, social inequalities, and harmful gender norms, which expose adolescents to lethal situations.
Violence manifests from an early age and in multiple settings. Around six out of ten children under 14 are subjected to violent discipline at home, one in four adolescents aged 13 to 17 experiences school bullying, and nearly one in five women report sexual violence before turning 18. Digital environments are increasingly a site of violence, although data on this form remain limited.
Experts emphasize that violence has profound and long-lasting impacts on both the physical and mental health of children and adolescents, violating their right to grow up in safe environments. Health services play a critical role in early identification and response, with timely support for at-risk individuals capable of mitigating harm and improving outcomes for survivors and communities.
The report also presents evidence-based solutions to prevent violence and reduce its costs. PAHO and UNICEF urge governments to strengthen and enforce child protection laws, control access to firearms, provide training for police, teachers, and health workers, support caregivers with positive parenting programs, invest in safe learning environments, and expand services that ensure children and adolescents are protected, have access to justice, and can live healthy, violence-free lives.
These findings were validated during a regional ministerial consultation in October 2025, which brought together more than 300 participants, including government officials, civil society representatives, youth leaders, and international partners. The consultation focused on identifying concrete actions to build safer environments for children and adolescents across the region.
