Parent and Caregiver Support Programmes - UNICEF

A well-established and growing body of evidence demonstrates the multiple ways in which violence against children and violence against women intersect or overlap. This includes similar and compounding consequences for children’s and women’s health and well-being, and for child development.1 In recognition of these intersections, there is growing interest in how parent and caregiver support programmes can be adapted to address both violence against children and violence against women. UNICEF’s current Child Protection Strategy highlights gender-transformative parent and caregiver support programmes as a key approach, as part of the strategic paradigm shift that increases the focus on violence prevention, tackling the structural and behavioural drivers of violence, and working at the intersections.2 This brief summarizes what we know about the potential for parent and caregiver support programmes to reduce both violence against children and violence against women, and why addressing these intersections matters for children’s protection and well-being. It is the second in a series of evidence briefs designed to support UNICEF country offices and other organizations to integrate work on the intersections between violence against children and violence against women.