In crisis settings, children and adolescents are extremely vulnerable to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. If violence persists, these young people will endure long-term consequences on growth, development, and psychological well-being. While family is key to protecting children from violence, families can have a reduced capacity to protect children and an increased risk of inflicting violence on children themselves in elevated stress and conflict settings.

We are partnering with MSF to understand the types of violence, abuse and neglect children and adolescents experience in crisis settings. Through evaluating care provided by health and support services to young people, we aim to identify interventions that may improve the accessibility and effectiveness of these services, thereby empowering them to work towards reducing future violence.

This study will help develop future field-based intervention studies to generate high-quality evidence that inform solutions and policies that guide humanitarian health organisations’ provision of care to young people at highest risk of violence.