Violence and injuries are the leading cause of death in the Western Pacific Region for ages 5-49 years, and responsible for almost 1 million deaths annually. Deaths from violence and injuries are just the tip of the iceberg. Tens of millions of non-fatal injuries occur, covering the full spectrum of severity and requiring various degrees of care and treatment, presenting an enormous cost to national health systems and economies.

Despite the magnitude, violence and injuries are preventable. WHO works with countries to prevent violence and injuries by:

• Supporting the development and implementation of national policies, programmes and legislation for violence and injury prevention.
• Building national capacities in surveillance, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation.
• Encouraging, facilitating and supporting multisectoral engagement.
• Supporting the introduction, dissemination and implementation of evidence-based guidance to prevent violence and injuries.