Overcoming Violence

Violence is preventable

Violence and trauma happen all around us—in our homes, in our communities, to whole populations. But that doesn’t mean we have to accept it—because it’s possible to prevent. It’s possible to heal. We’re dissecting the whys and hows behind violence to stop it before it starts, repair its damage, and build resilience.

We’re starting at the source, understanding the root causes that trigger violence and the lasting harm caused by violence and prejudice in all forms. We’re bringing scientific rigor to the quest for effective policies. And we’re taking data-driven approaches to determine what solutions actually work. We’re also digging into the emotional, physical and genetic drivers of resilience so we can all heal better.

We’re advancing the science of safer, stronger, and more just communities.

Spotlight

FXB Center for Health & Human Rights
The François-Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University envisions a world that fulfills the health and human rights of all peoples and protects them from injustices imposed by discrimination, poverty, conflict, and disaster.
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Recent Stories

Should women runners carry guns for self-defense?

Carrying a concealed weapon may not be the best way for women runners to protect themselves against harassment or assault, according to some experts.

Soaring gun sales in Massachusetts worry health experts

People in Massachusetts are buying more guns—mostly handguns, which people tend to buy for self-protection.

Why there’s so much gun violence in the U.S.—and what to do about it

In the wake of a May 24 mass shooting at an Uvalde, Texas, elementary school that left 19 students and two teachers dead, Harvard Chan School’s David Hemenway has been speaking out about why there’s so much gun…

Better data needed around deaths in police custody

Two years after the killing of George Floyd by a police officer—and nearly 10 since the start of the Black Lives Matter movement—researchers are examining whether the ensuing protests and national conversation around racism and inequity have had…

Getting to know … Patience Saaka, MPH ’22

Patience Saaka is a physician from Ghana with a passion for promoting equity in health care and ending gender-based violence.

Karestan Koenen
Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology

"We are gathering data from victims as soon as possible after the violent event and following people over time to understand the whole picture of what happens after a trauma. One of the goals is early diagnosis and prevention—because if we identify people early, intensive psychotherapy can prevent full-blown disease."
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Satchit Balsari
Research Fellow in the Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights

"It’s mind-boggling to think about the possibilities, over the next four or five decades, with cloud computing and mobile devices."
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Andrea Roberts
Research Scientist in the Department of Environmental Health

"I would love to see a common understanding—across the political spectrum—that childhood is a highly vulnerable period over which society has a huge influence."
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