The protection of children and youths from all forms of violence is a fundamental right. Unfortunately, violence remains a harsh reality for millions of young people in Africa. Violence is associated with serious economic costs for society, reducing human capacity and compromising social development. This includes physical violence encompasses a wide range of human rights violations, including sexual abuse of children, rape, domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, structural violence, e.g. poverty and deprivation of basic resources and access to rights; oppressive systems that enslave, intimidate, and abuse the poor, powerless and marginalised such as trafficking and cultural violence, e.g. the devaluing and destruction of particular group identities and ways of life, the violence of sexism, and other forms of moral exclusion that rationalise aggression, domination, inequity, and oppression. YAF aims to prevent and respond to violence against children and youth, especially girls and young women, and promote their right to live free from violence.