Conclusive report: Regional Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children and Adolescents (VAC) in Latin America and the Caribbean

Violence against children and adolescents remains one of the most urgent and persistent challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean. Aware of this reality, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) convened the Regional Consultation to deepen the available evidence, share progress, and strengthen joint actions aimed at preventing, addressing, and eradicating all forms of violence present in the region. This report synthesizes the main inputs generated through this process, including normative frameworks, evidence-based interventions, models of intersectoral coordination, and good practices implemented by participating States. The document also integrates contributions from specialists, national technical teams, civil society organizations, and community actors, whose participation made it possible to identify persistent gaps, opportunities for improvement, and key areas for regional cooperation. It is expected that this report will support decision-making, strategic planning, and the articulation of public policies by promoting comprehensive and sustained responses that ensure prevention, early detection, and timely attention to violence. This technical synthesis serves as a tool to advance toward more robust, coordinated systems that effectively uphold the protection of children and adolescents throughout the region.