African leaders call for increased efforts to prevent violence

AFRICAN LEADERS CALL FOR INCREASED EFFORTS TO PREVENT VIOLENCE

26 JULY 2003

In news about Africa, war and conflict often take centre stage, but they conceal equally vicious forms of violence such as homicide, rape, the abuse and neglect of children, violence against women and violence against the elderly. In the first week of July 2003, the second summit of the 53-nation African Union adopted, in Maputo, a resolution encouraging governments to respond to violence in all its forms as a priority public health challenge for countries in the region.

Annually some 1.6 million people die due to violence around the world. The violent death rate in Africa is estimated at 60.9 per 100 000 population. This is over twice the global rate and substantially higher than for other regions where violence is also a major public health issue, such as Latin American and Eastern Europe. The causes and consequences of violence differ substantially between regions. Africa's excessively high violent death rate is driven by homicide rates that are twice the global average and which include the world's highest rates of homicide for children under five years of age. The toll of violent death in Africa also reflects the many war-related deaths, which occur in Africa at a rate six times greater than the global average for this form of violence.

Reflecting on the challenge posed by violence, former South African President Nelson Mandela states in the foreword of WHO's World report on Violence and Health that: "It is the pain of children who are abused by people who should protect them; women injured or humiliated by violent partners; elderly persons maltreated by their own children; youths who are bullied by other youths; people of all ages who inflict violence on themselves. This suffering is a legacy that reproduces itself . No country, no city, no community is immune. But neither are we powerless against it." He continues by saying that: "We must address the roots of violence. Only then will we transform the past century's legacy from a crushing burden into a cautionary lesson."

The African Union Resolution endorses in their entirety the nine recommendations of the World report on Violence and Health. Among other issues these urge Member States to implement multi-sectoral national plans of action, to promote primary prevention programmes including investment in social development, and to improve services for victims of violence. Member States, in addition, declared the year 2005 the "Africa Year of Prevention of Violence", during which they have committed to scaling up their efforts to prevent violence and reduce its harmful consequences.

"We are tremendously impressed with the vision of African leaders to address violence, one of the great unacknowledged barriers to development and to achieving the Millennium Development Goals," said Dr Ebrahim Samba, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

WHO's World report on Violence and Health suggests that violence prevention and development are closely intertwined. Social investments in violence prevention strategies such as education, early schooling and support to families are also central to improving prospects for development.

African Union leaders requested the international community to collaborate with Member States on issues such as the promotion of gender and social equality, collaboration and exchange of information on violence prevention, and the promotion and monitoring of adherence to international treaties. In his inaugural address on 21 July 2003, the Director General of WHO, Dr JW Lee, pledged to "sustain and intensify work on violence and injuries." He also stated that WHO would offer African Member States full support to implement the Resolution.

For further information, please contact:

Public Information and Communication Unit
Or
Dr Charlotte Ndiaye
Division of Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases

World Health Organization - Regional Office for Africa
P.O. Box 6, Brazzaville, Congo

Tel: +47 241 39498 Ext.39372 Fax : +47 241 39501 or 39503

Email: regafro@afro.who.int