Cutting Global Violence by Half is Possible, New Report Concludes

Strategies to half global violence, which cost the worldwide economy more than $2 trillion in 2022, are outlined in "Beyond the Battlefields: Practical Strategies to Halving Global Violence in Our Homes, Streets, and Communities," a new report by the Halving Global Violence Task Force at NYU's Center on International Cooperation (CIC).

This comprehensive analysis examines various forms of violence and provides actionable solutions to reduce and prevent violence worldwide. It results from three years of research and collaboration among international policymakers, renowned researchers, field experts, and activists.

"Reducing global violence by half is not just an aspirational goal; it is an achievable imperative," said CIC Executive Director Ambassador Martin Kimani. "The flagship report of the Halving Global Violence Task Force underscores the urgency and feasibility of addressing violence in all its forms through evidence-based strategies and collaborative efforts. By implementing the actionable solutions outlined in this comprehensive analysis, we can create safer, more just societies for future generations.

"Where we witness war, instability, and a lack of opportunities, violence has a better chance to grow. More often than not, women and children in the most fragile contexts suffer the most," said Ambassador Patricia Danzi, director-general of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). "When we commit to uproot interpersonal violence, we prevent a lot of human suffering and at the same time make a contribution to peace."

Here are nine key findings from the report:

• Most violence occurs outside conflict zones, affecting all demographics and regions, with homicides frequently claiming nearly four times more lives than war and terrorism combined.
• Violence has an enormous financial impact, costing the global economy $2.6 trillion in 2022, according to the Global Peace Index. This includes direct costs such as hospitalizations and public security and indirect costs like lost productivity and decreased tourism.
• Violence creates fear in homes, streets, schools, and public spaces, hindering access to jobs, markets, and services. Its effects can span generations, with childhood victimization leading to lifelong consequences.
• Marginalized groups face the highest violence burdens, exacerbated by structural inequalities and concentrated in small to midsize urban areas.
• Violence is not limited to the Global South or specific groups; it varies across regions and demographics, often linked to structural inequalities, affecting all societies to different extents.
• Violence is often seen as a predominantly male issue, but assault rates show that both women and men are impacted. However, men are more likely to be homicide victims.
• Most killings of women are by intimate partners or family members, with up to one billion children facing violence each year.
• There is a compelling business case for violence prevention and reduction at multiple levels, as it leads to economic savings, improved productivity, and enhanced community well-being.
• Proven solutions exist to halve global violence, which is crucial for future generations. The report highlights innovative, low-cost strategies, emphasizing that this goal is achievable.

"We possess the knowledge and tools to make radical reductions in violence a reality," says Kimani. "Now, we need the political and societal will to achieve it."

The Halving Global Violence Task Force report provides concrete examples-particularly in cities around the world-of successful initiatives in violence reduction and calls for leaders and policymakers at all levels to act on the evidence presented.

The findings of the report highlight that addressing violence worldwide requires tackling its root causes, including structural inequalities and marginalization, which disproportionately affect vulnerable groups. Investing in proven, low-cost strategies and emphasizing violence prevention can reduce the global burden of violence, enhance economic productivity, and improve community well-being, making a safer world for future generations.

The report, drafted in alignment with the United Nations (UN) 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, underscores the link between peace and development. It emphasizes the necessity of addressing all forms of violence, including those often overlooked, to achieve all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and not only SDG16, which specifically relates to peace.

The report, the authors note, makes it clear: significant reductions in violence are essential for future generations, and we have the knowledge and tools needed to make radical global violence reduction a reality.

For more information on the report and to access the full document, please visit the Pathfinders website.

About the Halving Global Violence Task Force:
The Halving Global Violence Task Force at NYU's Center on International Cooperation is housed within Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies initiative, and leads the movement to halve global violence by 2030. This diverse coalition of high-level officials, experts, and activists provides evidence-based solutions and advocates for the political will and investments needed to help policymakers worldwide achieve this ambitious goal. The Task Force is co-chaired by the African Union Silencing the Guns Initiative and the governments of Costa Rica, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, and Switzerland and supported by the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency. Learn more at the Pathfinders website.

About the Center on International Cooperation (CIC):
The Center on International Cooperation (CIC) is a nonprofit research center housed at New York University. For over two decades, CIC has been a leader in applied policy that links politics, security, justice, development, and humanitarian issues. CIC's mission is to strengthen cooperative approaches among national governments, international organizations, and the wider policy community to prevent crises and advance peace, justice, and inclusion. Learn more at its website and @nyuCIC on social media.

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