Child-centred Indicators for Violence Prevention

In 2019, partners in the Philippines* piloted a "Living Lab" – a multi-stakeholder, co-research and co-design process – to develop child-centred indicators for violence prevention in the City of Valenzuela. Using child-centred, participatory research and engagement methods, this process brought child and adult stakeholders together in a series of 14 participatory workshops to creatively explore children’s experiences and perceptions of violence, map their aspirations for change, ideate strategies for addressing violence in their communities, and develop child-centred indicators against which violence reduction can be measured.

This report describes the Living Lab process used in the City of Valenzuela, summarises the key findings of the workshops with children, presents the critical issues and a preliminary list of indicators co-developed with child and adult stakeholders and reflects on the strengths and limitations of the Living Lab process in promoting better, more inclusive violence prevention and response.

Why we like this piece

The views of children and young people matter, and not just because of their right to expression. The authors of this report on Child-Centred Indicators ask an important question: How will we know that violence reduction and prevention efforts have translated into meaningful change for children in their everyday experience? The aim of the study was to co-design – with children and other stakeholders – indicators against which children and authorities can measure meaningful change in children’s experiences of violence and safety. The resulting child-centred indicators for violence prevention are both surprising and important and are intended to complement the INSPIRE core indicators, measures, and methods.

* Partners include End Violence, the City of Valenzuela in Greater Manila, UNICEF Philippines, the University of the Philippines and the Child Protection Network in the Philippines, the Young and Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University.