Violence continues to pose a serious threat to the lives, health and well-being of millions of children, adolescents and young people in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to a new joint report released on January 26, 2026, by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and UNICEF.
The report, Violence against children and adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean: New data and solutions, reveals that between 2015 and 2022, a total of 53,318 children and adolescents were victims of homicide across the region, making violence one of the most severe risks facing young people.
Recent data focusing on adolescents aged 15 to 17 show differing trends by sex. Between 2021 and 2022, the homicide rate among adolescent boys declined from 17.63 to 10.68 deaths per 100,000, though the rate remains high. In contrast, the homicide rate among adolescent girls more than doubled during the same period, rising from 2.13 to 5.1 deaths per 100,000.
According to the report, these homicides are occurring amid increasing armed violence in parts of the region, often linked to organized crime, easy access to firearms, social inequality and harmful gender norms. These factors, PAHO and UNICEF say, are placing adolescents at greater risk of lethal violence.
The report also highlights that violence often begins early in life and can take multiple interconnected forms. In Latin America and the Caribbean, six out of ten children and adolescents under the age of 14 are subjected to some form of violent discipline at home. One in four adolescents aged 13 to 17 experiences bullying at school, while nearly one in five women report having experienced sexual violence before the age of 18. Violence is also increasingly occurring in digital spaces, although data on online abuse remains limited.
“Every day, millions of children in Latin America and the Caribbean are exposed to violence – at home, at school and in communities with a gang presence,” said UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Roberto Benes. “Multiple places and situations in the region present real risks and dangers for children. We know how to end the violence. In Latin America and the Caribbean, strong and sustained public policies are required to prevent and respond to violence in all its forms so that every child can grow up in a safe environment.”
PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa underscored the long-term consequences of violence on young people’s health and development. “Violence has a profound and lasting impact on the physical and mental health of children and adolescents and violates their right to grow up in safe environments, at home, school and in the community,” he said. “Health services play a key role in prevention and response: when health workers identify people and groups at risk early and provide timely, quality support, they can make a real difference for survivors, their families and communities.”
Beyond outlining the scale of the problem, the report presents evidence-based solutions aimed at preventing violence and reducing its impact. PAHO and UNICEF are urging governments across the region to strengthen and enforce child protection laws, improve firearm control, and provide training for police officers, teachers, health workers and social workers. They also call for increased support for parents and caregivers in adopting respectful parenting practices, greater investment in safe learning environments, and expanded access to responsive protection and justice services.
The findings and recommendations of the report were validated during a regional ministerial consultation held on October 23–24, 2025. The consultation brought together more than 300 participants, including ministers and senior officials from health, education, justice and child protection sectors, as well as civil society representatives, youth leaders and international partners. The meeting aimed to agree on concrete actions to create safer environments for children and adolescents throughout the region.
