Preventing violence against children and young people with disabilities
Children and young people with disabilities face a disproportionately high risk of various forms of violence, neglect, and exploitation. Data indicate that they are almost three times more likely to experience violence than their peers without disabilities. However, expertise in this field requires us to look beyond the statistics and understand the mechanisms that create and perpetuate this vulnerability. Reconstructing “Vulnerability”: Why are the risks higher? The vulnerability of children with disabilities is not inherent to their impairment. Rather, it is created by a range of social, systemic, and physical barriers. Key factors contributing to their increased exposure to violence include: Forms of violence: recognizing what often remains invisible An expert approach requires recognition of the wide range of forms that violence can take, many of which remain hidden: A Strategy for Transformation: From Awareness to Systemic Prevention Creating a safe environment requires action at multiple levels: Our mission is systemic change. The safety of children and young people with disabilities is not a matter of charity; it is a matter of fundamental human rights and legal responsibility. Learn more about our expert approach and available resources at: empowered-wb.org