Violence against children (VAC) is a global concern, with three out of every four children experiencing some form of violent behaviour towards them at home, in the community, within school settings and in the online environment by other children, family members, carers and strangers. For example, one in ten children globally are sexually abused before the age of 18yrs. This course will seek to look at how we define and understand violence against children, and how this might differ in differing cultural, political and social contexts.

In addition, the course will look at both systemic and practice approaches to identifying and responding to violence against children, drawing upon legal frameworks, and the latest research. The course will be developed around the World Health Organisation’s INSPIRE Framework, and will be developed in conjunction with the United Nation’s Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, with whom the two participating Schools entered a formal relationship in March 2019. The course aims to bring together the expertise across the University of Edinburgh in relation to children’s rights, the protection of children form harm, international development and intervention research, to both promote positive practice, and to improve knowledge and understanding.