Early Childhood Development and Prevention of Violence

Early childhood is a decisive period for shaping values, behavior, and emotional wellbeing. In Iraq, years of conflict, displacement, and economic hardship have weakened family and community protection systems, leaving many children exposed to violence from a young age. Estimates indicate that up to 80% of children in Iraq experience some form of violence at home or in school, increasing the risk of long-term harm.

Violence against women and girls remains widespread, with over 1.3 million people at risk, and women and adolescent girls comprising the majority of survivors. Most reported cases are linked to domestic and intimate partner violence, highlighting the household as a critical space for early prevention and intervention.

Children who grow up in violent environments are more likely to normalize abuse and carry these patterns into adulthood. Early exposure to violence shapes how both girls and boys understand power, relationships, and conflict. For girls, this increases the risk of school dropout, early marriage, and future domestic violence. For boys, repeated exposure to violence increases the likelihood of adopting harmful behaviors and replicating violence later in life. Investing in early childhood development, including positive parenting and child protection approaches, is therefore essential to preventing violence before it begins.

WANi integrates early childhood development into its violence prevention and child protection work by promoting non-violent caregiving, strengthening safe and nurturing home environments, and supporting families to raise children—girls and boys—who value respect, empathy, and healthy relationships. Protecting children today and teaching non-violence early are critical to reducing domestic violence in the future and building safer, more resilient communities across Iraq.