Violence reduction features prominently in the 2015-2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By 2030, they ask the world community to eliminate all violence against women and girls (SDG 5.2), to end all forms of violence against children (SDG 16.2), and to significantly reduce all other forms of violence worldwide (SDG 16.1).

Is the world on track to achieve these goals?  In what world regions and for what types of violence can we see significant reductions? And to what extent has international programming based on scientific evidence contributed to reductions in violence?

In this lecture I will critically review the relevant evidence, and outline a global research and policy framework for effective violence reduction beyond the 2015-2030 SDG period.