Violence prevention

Definition. The set of policies and interventions intended to reduce the likelihood that violence will be committed, repeated or aggravated.

Key points. Prevention may take place before violence first occurs, through information, education, the reduction of risk factors and the establishment of protective measures. It also applies when violence is already known to have occurred, in order to prevent its repetition or escalation.

In cases of gender-based violence, prevention may include the handling of complaints, risk assessment, protection of people under threat, access to social and health services, monitoring of perpetrators of violence and the exchange of information between the relevant institutions.

Prevention is not the same as investigation or criminal prosecution. An investigation seeks to establish the facts and identify those responsible for an offence; prosecution seeks to bring those facts before a court. These functions may nevertheless contribute to prevention when they reduce the recurrence of violence.

The effectiveness of a prevention policy depends on its practical implementation: accessibility of services, speed of response, availability of staff, coordination between services and effective protection for people at risk.

Related concepts. Gender-based violence · Femicide · Individual criminal responsibility · National disaster