Problem
Violent death of young people
Other Names:
Murder of adolescentsYouth killings
Incidence:
A study of 26 countries with the world's richest economies stated that, of the 2,872 violent deaths among children 14 years old and younger in 1993, 1994 were homicides. 73 percent occurred in the USA. According to the report amost 600 children committed suicide in 1994; 54 per cent of them were Americans. Childhood homicide rates in the USA have tripled since 1950, and the suicide rate has quadrupled.
Reasons given for the high rate of homicide, suicide and fire-arms related deaths in the USA are an increasing number of children who are unsupervised or otherwise at risk, a low level of funding for social programmes, high numbers of working women, a high divorce rate, social acceptability of violence, and the presence of more than 200 million handguns in American homes.
In 1993 in a backwater village of eastern Slovakia, a six years old Gypsy boy killed another, a seven-year boy, by stabbing him to his neck, in a game inspired by the movie character Rambo.
Broader Problems:
HomicideKilling of childrenYouth violenceViolent deaths Narrower Problems:
Juvenile suicideVulnerability of children during armed conflict Aggravates:
Urban psychosisAdverse childhood experiencesAcceptance of violenceDisparagement of youth Strategies:
Preventing youth crimeReducing teenage murderAddressing problems of marginalized young people Subject(s):
Life → DeathSocietal Problems → Crime
Societal Problems → Destruction
Societal Problems → Maltreatment
Society → Adolescents
Society → Youth
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
E: Emanations of other problems Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST