Key FINDINGS
on Sexual Violence From the “global status 
report on violence prevention 2014”

Research translation by NSVRC

© 2016 National Sexual Violence Resource Center. All rights reserved.
This document was supported by Cooperative Agreement #5UF2CE002359-03 from the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official 
views of the CDC.
The content of this publication may be reprinted with the following acknowledgment: This material was reprinted, with 
permission, from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s publication entitled Key findings from the “Global Status 
Report on Violence Prevention 2014.” This guide is available by visiting www.nsvrc.org. 




Key FINDINGS
on Sexual Violence From the “Global Status Report 
on violence Prevention 2014”

Sexual violence is a global public health problem that can be prevented. Effective 
prevention requires multiple efforts across the social ecology. Efforts at individual, 
relationship, organizational, community, and societal levels are needed. To end sexual 
violence, we need to know the true scope of its prevalence, the factors that influence its 
occurrence, and the most effective strategies to address and prevent it. This research 
translation provides a summary of key findings on sexual violence as a component of 
interpersonal violence that is the wider focus of the Global Status Report on Violence 
Prevention 2014 (World Health Organization [WHO], 2014). People working to end sexual 
violence can use these findings to inform data collection, prevention planning and evaluation, 
policy advocacy, and community partnerships.

BACKGROUNDIn 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) Recommendations involved research and data 
issued the first World Report on Violence collection, prevention, victim response, gender 
and Health to further our understanding of and social equality, multidisciplinary collaboration, 
prevalence and impacts of violence throughout public policies, and other aspects of violence 
the world (Krug, Dahlberg, Mercy, Zwi, & prevention and response. Key findings from that 
Lozano, 2002). In addition to publishing report can be found in Global Perspectives on 
the findings, WHO also made specific Sexual Violence: Findings from the World Report 
recommendations to prevent and address on Violence and Health from the National Sexual 
violence throughout the world. Violence Resource Center (2004). 


In the current Global Status Report (WHO, 
2014), WHO provides examples of how these 
recommendations are being implemented in 
more than 100 countries. The report examines 
the following: 

• The scope of violence and data collection 
efforts; 

• The status of prevention programs, policies, 
and legislation;

• The availability of victim services;

• Opportunities to address gaps and inspire 
action — the way forward. 



Globally, one in three women has been victimized physically or 
sexually by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

1 IN 5sexually abused during childhood. 



Methods
In 2010, WHO began systematically gathering 
information about violence prevention efforts 
on a global scale. WHO collaborated with the 
United Nations Development Programme and 
the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 
They assessed 133 countries, representing 88% 
of the world’s population (WHO, 2014, p. 5).
The data-gathering process entailed four 
steps beginning with a self-administered 
questionnaire that was completed by a range 
of government and non-governmental agencies 
from health, legal, education, gender, law 
enforcement, child services, social development, 
and other sectors. Following the questionnaire, 
respondents met to reach consensus about 
the data that best represented their respective 
countries. The data were validated by WHO and 
global violence prevention staff and permission 
was then provided by governments to include 
the data in the status report (WHO, 2014, p. 6). 

The questionnaire asked about each country’s 
data gathering, laws, policies, services, and 
programming pertaining to interpersonal 
violence. Interpersonal violence encompassed 
child maltreatment, elder abuse, intimate 
partner violence, sexual violence, youth 
violence, gang violence, and armed violence. The 
assessment focused on the presence of efforts, 
not the quality or effectiveness of those efforts. 
Key findingsThe scope of violence and data collection

Much of our global data about violence comes 
from population-based surveys and special 
studies. Over half (52%) of the participating 
countries indicated they gather prevalence data 
on sexual violence, which is obtained mainly 
through surveys. Sexual violence is the second 
highest form of violence being examined for 
prevalence, with 57% of countries gathering 
prevalence data on intimate partner violence 
and only 6% collecting gang violence data. 
Interestingly, “countries reported that sexual 
violence was the predominant type of violence 
surveyed across all levels of country income 
status” with more low-income countries including 
sexual violence in population-based studies than 
high-income countries (WHO, 2014, p. 22). 
Other findings: (WHO, 2014, p. viii)

• Data from participating countries show one 
in five women has been sexually abused 
as a child. WHO acknowledges the sexual 
victimization of boys and men, but indicates 
this remains poorly documented globally. 
People who identify as transgender are also 
underrepresented in the data.

• Child sexual abuse is highly prevalent 
globally. One in five girls has been sexually 
abused during childhood; in some countries, 
the number is closer to one in three. Eighteen 
percent of girls and 7% of boys have been 
sexually abused in their lifetime. 

• Globally, one in three women has been 
victimized physically or sexually by an 
intimate partner in their lifetime. Forty-
two percent were injured as a result. Seven 
percent of women were sexually victimized 
by someone other than an intimate partner.
 
• Abuse against older adults is defined broadly, 
and included physical, sexual, emotional, 
psychological, and financial abuse as well as 
abandonment and neglect. One in 17 older 
adults was abused in the previous month at 
the time the data was collected. 


The status of prevention programs, policies, 
and legislation

Globally, violence is linked to high economic 
costs; a range of physical, mental health, 
behavioral, sexual and reproductive health 
struggles; as well as chronic disease 
consequences. The negative ripple effects 
of violence make investments in effective 
prevention strategies all the more urgent. Data 
drives our understanding of a problem and the 
ways in which it should be addressed. While 
the presence of national action plans which are 
designed to prevent and respond to violence 
within a country, is promising, the report found 
that most plans and policies are formed in the 
absence of data. 

For example, it was more common for 
countries to report that they have national 
action plans than to report that they conduct 
population-based studies. While plans may 
be underway, without data and evidence, it is 
unclear if such plans are going to be effective in 
preventing violence. This was less the case for 
intimate partner and sexual violence than it was 
for other forms of violence, yet for all forms of 
violence, having national action plans were still 
more common than actual data collection and 
analysis as indicated below (WHO, 2014, p. 24). 

National action plans

• Approximately half (51%) of participating 
countries said they had plans to address 
multiple forms of violence. These integrated 
plans were most common in the Americas. 

• Sixty-five percent of countries had national 
action plans on sexual violence (compared 
to 71% on child maltreatment, 68% on 
intimate partner violence, and 53% on youth 
violence). Elder abuse, armed violence, 
and gang violence were underrepresented 
(between 37-41%) in national action plans. 


Globally, violence is linked to high economic costs; a range of physical, mental health, behavioral, 
sexual and reproductive health struggles; as well as chronic disease consequences. 

High Economic Costs

Mental Health Problems

Sexual and Reproductive Health Struggles

Chronic Disease Consequences



Multi-sectoral strategies

The overwhelming majority (96%) of countries 
have an approach to violence prevention 
that involves multiple agencies or disciplines. 
Further, 77% of countries have a way to share 
information across these agencies. However, 
clear leadership and mechanisms to coordinate 
these efforts are often missing. Without 
leadership and coordination, agencies may 
duplicate efforts and lack the support needed 
for evaluation and strategic planning 
(WHO, 2014, p. 26). 

Sexual violence prevention strategies being 
implemented

Sexual violence is a complex public health 
problem affecting all aspects of our society. 
Yet, global investments in its prevention remain 
low. Further, while growing evidence shows that 
violence is preventable, strategies are unevenly 
supported across the globe. 

“Best buy” strategies

Following a review of the scientific evidence 
base for prevention and response, WHO and 
its partners identified “best buy” strategies 
in which to invest – six prevention strategies 
and one that is response-focused (#7 below). 
They describe these strategies as having the 
potential to prevent multiple forms of violence, 
prevent perpetration, and reduce risk for 
victimization (WHO, 2014, p. 27).

1. Developing safe, stable, and nurturing 
relationships between children and their 
parents and caregivers;

2. Developing life skills in children and 
adolescents;

3. Reducing the availability and harmful use of 
alcohol;

4. Reducing access to guns and knives;

5. Promoting gender equality to prevent 
violence against women;

6. Changing cultural and social norms that 
support violence;

7. Victim identification, care, and support 
programs.


Implementation of “best buy” strategies to prevent sexual violence

The report assessed the extent to which the 
six prevention strategies identified above are 
being implemented by looking specifically at 
18 types of violence prevention programs. 
Overall, findings show that many countries are 
engaged in violence prevention, but not to the 
scale needed to actually end violence. Less than 
40% of countries are implementing “best buy” 
strategies on a large scale; even when large-scale 
efforts are underway, there is not necessarily 
evidence supporting their effectiveness. 

Strategies that relate most closely with sexual 
violence prevention include: 

• Social and cultural norms change strategies 
that seek to dismantle rigid gender norms 
about male sexual entitlement and attitudes 
and beliefs that support sexual violence. 
This approach is most commonly used by 
countries to address violence against women; 
however only 11% have implemented this 
strategy on a broader scale (reaching 30% or 
more of the target population across multiple 
communities). Fifty percent of countries have 
engaged in this strategy on a more limited 
scale, once or a few times (WHO, 2014, p. 28). 
(A more detailed breakdown of programs can 
be seen on page 6 of this report.)

• Child sexual abuse avoidance strategies 
teach children about body safety, body 
ownership, and how to tell a trusted adult 
about abuse. Thirty-seven percent of 
countries are implementing child sexual 
abuse prevention. Fifteen percent of 
countries are implementing this strategy on a 
larger scale and 37% are engaged in a more 
limited way (WHO, 2014, p. 71).

• School and college programs encompass 
awareness-raising activities, gender norms 
analysis, bystander behavior activities, and 
seek to effect changes in knowledge and 
attitudes about rape and sexual assault. Only 
20% of countries are engaged in school and 
college-based sexual violence prevention 
strategies on a broad scale. More countries 
(35%) have implemented this strategy in a 
limited way (once or a few times) and most 
(45%) countries said they do not offer this 
type of program (WHO, 2014, p. 77). 

• Physical environment approaches to sexual 
violence prevention include surveillance, 
lighting, and encouraging the use of public 
spaces. Twenty-six percent of countries are 
using this strategy to prevent sexual violence 
on a larger scale; 29% have implemented it 
once or a few times (WHO, 2014, p. 77). 

• Notably, economic empowerment and gender 
equity programs have evidence showing 
reductions in partner violence, yet only 21% of 
countries are implementing microfinance and 
gender equity strategies to address intimate 
partner violence (WHO, 2014, p. 75). 
Additionally, while the following three 
strategies are not directly referenced as sexual 
violence prevention strategies in the report, 
they could potentially strengthen and inform 
Violence prevention efforts. 

• Caregiver support programs relieve the 
burden of people providing care to older 
adults. These programs include help with 
housekeeping, meals, respite, and other 
supports. They are aimed at reducing 
caregiver stress and depression, which are risk 
factors for elder abuse. Thirty-three percent 
of countries are engaged in caregiver support 
programs on a larger scale; 39% offer it on a 
more limited scale (WHO, 2014, p. 31). 

• Residential care policies improve nursing 
and residential care home standards to 
prevent elder abuse. Thirty-seven percent of 
countries implement this strategy on a large 
scale (WHO, 2014, p. 31). 

• Parent-child relationship programs are 
being implemented to nurture positive child 
development and success in school. Growing 
evidence shows that stability within families 
and child-caregiver relationships may serve 
as a protective factor against depression, 
anti-social behavior, and poor communication 
(WHO, 2014, p. 30). 


Implementation of “Best Buy” Strategies to Prevent Sexual Violence
 
Social and Cultural Norms Change Strategies 
seek to dismantle rigid gender norms about 
male sexual entitlement and attitudes and 
beliefs that support sexual violence. 

Child Sexual Abuse Avoidance Strategies 
teach children about body safety, body ownership, and how to tell a trusted adult 
about abuse. 

School and College Programs 
seek to effect changes in knowledge and 
attitudes about rape and sexual assault.
 
Physical Environment Approaches 
to sexual violence prevention include 
surveillance, lighting, and encouraging the 
use of public spaces. 

Economic Empowerment/Gender Equity Program 
to implement microfinance and gender equity 
strategies to address intimate partner violence.




Proportion of countries implementing different 
types of programs on a larger scale, 
by type of program and who region (n=133 reporting countries)

African Region Eastern European Southeast Western All
Region of the Mediterranean Region Asia Region Pacific Americas Region 
Child Maltreatment Home Visiting 7% 52% 31% 51% 13% 30% 35%
Parenting Education 11% 57% 44% 46% 13% 40% 38%
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention 44% 62% 31% 29% 0% 35% 37%
Youth Violence Pre-School Enrichment 22% 67% 31% 54% 13% 15% 38%
Life Skills/Social Development Programs33% 71% 56% 63% 38% 30% 51%
Bullying Prevention 30% 52% 69% 59% 25% 35% 47%
Mentoring 15% 29% 44% 27% 13% 10% 23%
After-School Programs 7% 43% 31% 59% 25% 20% 35%
Intimate Partner Violence Dating Violence Prevention Programs 22% 38% 0% 27% 13% 15% 22%
Microfinance with Gender Equity Training 19% 33% 25% 12% 0% 35% 21%
Social and Cultural Norm-Change Programs 41% 67% 56% 48% 25% 50% 49%
Sexual Violence Prevention Programs for School and 30% 52% 38% 37% 25% 25% 35%
College Populations Improving Physical Environments 15% 24% 50% 29% 25% 40% 29%
Social and Cultural Norm-Change Programs 56% 62% 56% 42% 38% 50% 50%
Elder Abuse Professional Awareness Campaigns 11% 24% 44% 37% 0% 25% 26%
Public Information Campaigns 15% 19% 31% 27% 0% 30% 23%
Caregiver Support Programs 15% 43% 56% 51% 25% 35% 39%
Residential Care Policies 11% 52% 63% 40% 13% 30% 36%

From Global Status Report on Violence Prevention 2014, World Health Organization, Table 5, p. 29. Copyright 2014 
by the World Health Organization. Reprinted with permission. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/violence_injury_
prevention/violence/status_report/2014/en/



Social and Educational Policies to address risk factors 

Social and educational policies have great 
potential to influence factors that can either 
perpetuate or prevent sexual violence on a large 
scale. WHO identifies the following risk factors as 
associated with all forms of violence (p. 33):

• Weak governance and lawS

• Cultural, social, and gender norms
 
• Gender-based inequality

• Unemployment and income inequality 

• Rapid social change

• Limited educational opportunities


Despite the potential of different policies that 
could address many of the above conditions, 
WHO found that only a few countries are 
implementing measures. For example:

• Academic enrichment can protect against 
a host of risk factors for violence, yet only 
40% of surveyed countries have national 
policies that incentivize at risk youth to 
complete secondary schooling (p. 33). 

• Poverty, unemployment, and housing 
instability interrupt community characteristics 
that can protect against violence: social 
cohesion, support networks, and social 
control. Yet, only 24% of surveyed countries 
indicated they have housing policies to reduce 
poverty and economic instability (p. 34). 


Additionally, access to firearms and harmful 
alcohol consumption are identified risk factors 
for various forms of violence. Research from the 
United States suggests that a 1% increase in the 
price of alcohol could reduce intimate partner 
violence by 5.3%; a 10% increase in beer prices 
would reduce violence among college students 
by 4% each year (WHO, 2014, p. 35). Additional 
findings included: 

• Eighty percent of countries surveyed tax 
beer, wine, and spirits (p. 35).
 
• Nearly all countries regulate firearm access, 
although the laws themselves and the 
populations covered vary (p. 35). 


social and cultural norms change can be an important 
strategy to inform and create cultural shifts in promoting 
norms supportive of healthy, non-violent, and gender equitable 
relationships.(WHO, 2014, p. 28)


Laws against violence

Laws against violence have great potential 
to influence individual behavior and establish 
community norms and practices. Laws 
can mobilize community investment and 
collaboration in violence prevention, fostering 
a climate in which people are deterred from 
committing harm in the first place. According 
to survey findings, most (80%) countries 
have laws to prevent violence; however, active 
enforcement of those laws occurs only 57% of 
the time (WHO, 2014, p. 39). The report does 
not provide in-depth findings related to how 
countries enforce these laws. 


In the survey, WHO inquired about 12 laws 
pertaining to violence prevention including 
laws against sexual violence, domestic violence, 
firearms, gang violence, corporal punishment, 
and elder abuse (p. 39). 

• Findings from the survey show that 80% of 
countries have enacted each of these laws, 
although to varying degrees. For example, 
only 40% of countries have elder abuse 
prevention laws compared with 98% of 
countries with rape prevention laws. 

• There were regional differences in the 
existence of marital rape prevention laws, 
with only 50% of countries in the Western 
Pacific Region and 52% in the African region 
having such laws, compared to 91% of 
countries in the Region of the Americas and 
European Region (p. 39).


“Addressing the needs of victims with trauma-focused 
care, cognitive behavioral therapy … and other 
mental health services can potentially mitigate the 
serious mental health outcomes of abuse”.(WHO, 2014, p. 40)



The availability of victim services

There are multiple short- and long-term 
consequences of sexual violence. Individuals 
may experience struggles in mental and 
physical health, legal, economic and housing 
challenges, and other aspects of life following 
sexual violence. Providing comprehensive, 
trauma-informed services for persons who 
are victimized can mitigate far-reaching 
consequences. The survey asked about the 
availability of the following services which can 
provide much-needed support for victims of 
violence (WHO, 2014, pp. 40-43): 

• Child and adult protective services
Child protective services were most widely 
available, with 69% of countries reporting 
they have such services. 

• Medical and legal services for sexual 
violence victims
The availability of medico-legal services 
for sexual violence victims were reported 
by 67% of countries. The identification of 
child maltreatment through screening and 
referral services embedded in maternal and 
child health programs were reported by 59% 
of countries. However, of those, 80% were 
reported by high-income compared to 33% 
by low-income countries.
 
• Referral services
Providing referrals and supportive services 
for victims of sexual and intimate partner 
violence is recognized by WHO as important, 
yet these services were available in only 53% 
of countries. Availability of these services was 
influenced by economics, with services being 
more available in higher-income countries.

• Mental health services
Less than half (49%) of countries indicated 
that mental health services are available for 
victims. Of those, most countries with mental 
health services were located in the Region of 
the Americas (71%) and Europe (66%) and 
the least were located in the Western Pacific 
Region (26%) and in the African Region (15%).

• Legal services pertaining to victim 
compensation and court representations
A majority of countries report having laws 
providing for legal representation in criminal 
courts, with half reporting victim compensation 
provisions as well. The extent to which these 
are enforced varies by country income, with 
high-income countries reporting higher rates.


Globally, child protective services were the 
most widely reported of all services, followed by 
medical and legal services for victims of sexual 
violence. However, the quality and accessibility 
of services were not examined. Despite the 
availability of child protective services being 
relatively high, the delivery of services is often 
fragmented and under-resourced, which may 
hinder children and families from accessing the 
support they need. 

Despite a growing aging population, adult 
protective services were the least available 
across all countries, with only one third 
reporting that they have these services in 
place. However, the United States is reportedly 
farthest along in its efforts to identify, report, 
and treat cases of elder abuse.
 

Strengths and limitations of the Global Status Report

There are several strengths associated with the 
Global Status Report: 

• The study used a comprehensive approach 
to learn about multiple forms of violence and 
prevention in 133 countries. 

• The standardized assessment method to 
obtain data and consensus-building approach 
to ensure the data were most representative 
are also strengths. 

• Enlisting government endorsement of data 
also helped to potentially build investment 
in violence and its prevention on a systems-
level scale.

There are also limitations that can help inform 
future research:

• The study asked individuals to complete 
a survey based on their perceptions of 
prevention activities underway. Therefore, 
it is possible that people over-estimated the 
extent of prevention activities. 

• The assessment measured the existence 
of types of programs and policies, but did 
not measure the quality of those efforts, or 
gather information on the specific programs 
and policies implemented.

• The study only examined prevention 
programs and policies that are supported by 
evidence. This means that many strategies 
and underserved populations were not 
included in the assessment or report. There 
could be innovative strategies that are 
underway, but left out of the conversation 
due to lack of evidence. 


Political and economic investment in sexual violence prevention 
does not yet match the toll that this public health and social 
justice problem takes on the global community.



A way forward

Public and organizational policies play an 
important role in prevention. Policies are 
a reflection of public values, attitudes, and 
priorities. They also can help to shape the 
ways that communities approach an issue and 
can catalyze broad-scale social change. The 
Global Status Report sheds light on a possible 
way forward, to strengthen sexual violence 
prevention policies and programs on a global 
scale and in the U.S.

Recommendations that would strengthen 
prevention efforts (WHO, 2014, pp. 48-50):

• Strengthen data collection to further the 
world’s understanding of sexual violence 
and ensure that data inform comprehensive, 
national prevention plans. Data should 
reflect the reality of sexual violence and its 
impacts on people across gender identity, 
sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, language, 
economic status, ability/disability, and age.

• Integrate violence prevention into other 
public health frameworks such as early 
childhood development, school health 
programs, mental health, HIV prevention, 
substance abuse prevention, and others. 

• Build capacity for leadership and 
coordination of violence prevention — 
prioritize training of the workforce and 
building infrastructures to sustain prevention 
over time and across agencies/organizations. 

• Strengthen prevention and response 
strategies by addressing multiple forms of 
violence and using approaches grounded in 
the best available data. 

• Expand support for evaluating sexual violence 
prevention programs and policies to inform 
intended outcomes. Multiple resources have 
been developed to guide evaluation efforts, 
including Framework for Program Evaluation 
in Public Health by the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (1999). In addition, 
there are evaluation resources available on 
the Program Evaluation project page on 
the NSVRC website (http://www.nsvrc.org/
projects/xchange-forum/program-evaluation).

• Establish, enact, and enforce public policies 
that address multiple forms of violence and 
measure their prevention effectiveness.


The findings from the Global Status Report 
help to validate the range of efforts being 
implemented in the United States to prevent 
and address sexual violence. For example, 
efforts at individual, relationship, community, 
and societal levels are underway, with an 
increasing focus on policy, evaluation, and 
research as integral to prevention.

The report also validates many of the 
challenges in preventing sexual violence. For 
example, local, state, and national needs often 
outpace research on best practices in sexual 
violence prevention. WHO notes: “Efforts 
geared towards preventing violence should be 
comprehensive, tackling the range of factors 
that increase the risk of violence, including 
larger social determinants such as economic 
and gender inequality, and should be sustained 
over time” (WHO, 2014, p. 27). Political and 
economic investment in sexual violence 
prevention does not yet match the toll that this 
public health and social justice problem takes 
on our global community.

This report calls for increased political and 
economic resources to support research 
and data collection; prevention strategy 
development, coordination and evaluation; 
victim services; and violence prevention 
policy development and enforcement. An 
infrastructure is needed to support prevention 
strategies that engage multiple levels of 
our society and are informed by research, 
best practices, and the strengths and needs 
of communities. People working to prevent 
sexual violence can share these findings 
with policymakers, funders, and community 
stakeholders to help build a sustainable 
investment in sexual violence prevention. 

For more information on this resource or 
other topics pertaining to sexual violence and 
its prevention, please contact the NSVRC at 
resources@nsvrc.org.



References

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Krug, E. G., Dahlberg, L. L., Mercy, J. A., Zwi, A. 
B., & Lozano, R. (Eds.). (2002). World report on 
violence and health. Retrieved from the World 
Health Organization: http://apps.who.int/iris/
bitstream/10665/42495/1/9241545615_eng.pdf 




National Sexual Violence Resource Center. 
(2004). Global perspectives on sexual violence: 
Findings from the World Report on Violence and 
Health. Retrieved from http://www.nsvrc.org/
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World Health Organization. (2014). Global status 
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National Sexual Violence Resource Center | (877)739-3895 | resources@nsvrc.org | www.nsvrc.org