Strengthening community formal and non- formal systems to prevent violence against children in East Africa: What is working?

This article focuses on Violence against Children (VAC) as a growing public health and social development problem globally. It provides a summary of the framework and model focusing on addressing VAC which World Vision is implementing in East Africa. The systems approach and the Child Protection and Advocacy (CPA) model were considered in addressing VAC. In different ways communities are demonstrating enormous progress in preventing and responding to violence against children in East Africa through the CPA model. There is clear evidence from the community case studies that child protection committees have  provided an effective inter-sectoral and inter disciplinary mechanism that links the formal and non formal structures to coordinate interventions and responses to prevent VAC Through the Analysis, Design and Planning Tool (ADAPT) , harmful practices like child marriages, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), child labour,  sexual abuse,  defilement, child trafficking and child neglect have been have been identified and are being responded to through formal and informal child protection mechanisms to ensure the well - being of children. Further research and analysis is however required to investigate how the community informal and formal child protection system can be strengthened to effectively address violence against children. Key words: Sexual abuse, violence, public health, child protection system, social ecology, risk factors, protective factors, ecological perspective, formal and non-formal, child protection and advocacy.