9 October 2007 - Update: The Secretary-General's Study on Violence against Children 32
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- NGO Advisory Council: Petition to the General Assembly [news]
- GENERAL ASSEMBLY: 2007 Report of the Independent Expert [publication]
- Summary of the Violence Study [publication]
- Children's Ombudspersons: Statement on Violence Against Children [publication]
- News and Resources
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This list is the primary means of communication for NGOs interested in the UN Study on Violence Against Children and for the Subgroup on Children and Violence. Updates are sent approximately once a month. Please feel free to forward these updates to others who may be interested.
If you do not receive this email in html format, you will not be able to see some hyperlinks in the text. At the end of each item we have therefore provided a full URL linking to a web page where further information is available.
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NGO Advisory Council: petition to the General Assembly [news]
In June 2007, the members of the NGO Advisory Council for follow up to the UN Study on Violence against children issued a statement calling on the United Nations to establish a Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against children.
The call for action invited signatures from international, regional and national organisations around the world. Over 900 organisations from over 130 countries have already given their support to the call for action. The petition will be presented to the General Assembly at its 62nd session next week by the members of the NGO Advisory Council.
Has your organisation signed the petition?
Visit: http://www.crin.org/violence/petitions/petition.asp?petID=1004
Sign the petition: http://www.crin.org/violence/petitions/petition.asp?petID=1004#sign
Why do we need a Special Representative? Read the report English - Français - Español - Arabic
For more information, contact:
NGO Advisory Council on: [email protected]
For information related to the petition, contact: [email protected]
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GENERAL ASSEMBLY: 2007 Report of the Independent Expert [publication]
This report is submitted to the 62nd session of the General Assembly pursuant to Resolution 61/146. It provides information on the dissemination of the United Nations Study on Violence against Children and on progress made in the initial phase of follow-up to the Study. It also sets out the necessary strategy to further promote the implementation of the Study's recommendations.
The UN Study on Violence against Children exposed the horrendous scale and impact of all forms of violence against children, highlighting the universality and magnitude of the problem. It reflected the clear human rights obligations of Member States to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against children. It also emphasised the need for multifaceted and coordinated solutions, bringing together different perspectives and professional expertise and engaging actively with children themselves.
Less than one year after the Study’s release, its positive impact is evident in all regions of the world. The Study succeeded in globally raising awareness of a problem frequently hidden and in providing a structured framework for action. It continues to reach audiences among governments and civil society in all regions of the world. Not a single country denied the existence of violence against children within its borders, and in all regions the relevance of the recommendations proposed in the Study were recognised.
Information provided for the present report demonstrates that many relevant measures are already being implemented by States, international organisations and civil society entities. But this process is only in its initial stage. Sustainable results in the protection of children from violence are only achievable through strong and comprehensive initiatives and continuous high-level attention to this dramatic reality. Dedicated leadership and coordination are therefore indispensable at all levels, especially in this initial stage of follow-up.
The Study has raised the expectations of millions of children in all regions; they want their childhood, free of violence, now. A year is a long time in the life of a child. We cannot keep them waiting.
Further information
For more information, contact:
UN Secretary General's Study on Violence Against Children - Secretariat
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.violencestudy.org
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=14921
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Summary of the Violence Study [publication]
This is an eight page summary of the UN Secretary-General Study on Violence Against Children published by the NGO Advisory Council for follow up to the UN Study on Violence Against Children. The document gives the background and process of the Study, lists the key findings as well as the overarching recommendations.
You can download the document in pdf format: http://www.crin.org/docs/VAC_Summary.pdf
For more information, contact:
Email: [email protected]
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=15086
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Children's Ombudspersons: Statement on Violence Against Children [publication]
ENOC Statement on Implementation of the UN Study on Violence Against Children recommendations, August 2007
"We, members of the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC), call upon our governments to vote on a strong resolution on the rights of the child at the United Nations General Assembly, October 2007.
This resolution must include violence against children as a central theme, reflecting the outcome of Professor Paulo Pinheiro’s World Report on Violence Against Children and echoing the key message of the Study that “no violence against children is justifiable; all violence against children is preventable”.
The UN resolution should reaffirm the overarching recommendations of the Study, including sections on the different arenas where violence against children occurs: in the home, in educational settings, in care and institutions, in the community and in the work place.
It is a well established fact that violence affects children in many negative ways, and hinders their healthy development. Furthermore, it has been proven that preventing violence against children would address problems that, if carried on throughout their life, would place a considerable social and economical burden on societies at large.
Yet, the full scale of violence experienced by children remains unknown, and the severity of the problem has not been acknowledged.
Children who are exposed to violence cannot wait any longer, and we need urgent action at national and international levels.
As children’s ombudspersons, we support the recommendations of the Violence Study and we urge our governments to ensure the resolution recommends every member state that has not yet done so, to:
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Prohibit all forms of violence against children, including physical and humiliating punishment.
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Establish an independent human rights institution for children, such as children’s ombudspersons or similar.
Finally, we call on the UN General Assembly to appoint a Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence Against Children. The mandate for the Special Representative should be to:
1. Highlight and focus on all forms of violence against children and to mobilise all forces that can end this violence.
2. Support and monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the violence study.
3. Identify examples of best practice to fight all forms of violence against children.
4. Coordinate and communicate with all key actors in this work.
Further information
For more information, contact:
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ombudsnet.org
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=15134
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News and Resources_
BURMA/MYANMAR: UN Human Rights Experts express grave concern
Visit: http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=15009
BURKINA FASO: Girl's death prompts search for new strategies to fight FGM
Visit: http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=15001
UNITED STATES: No easy answers - sex offender laws in the US
Visit: http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=14877
VIOLENCE: Positive Discipline - What it is and how to do it
Visit: http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=14845
INDIA: Law ministry rejects bill for child protection
Visit: http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=14752
More news and resources
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This Update is an electronic mailing list of the Child Rights Information Network (CRIN), in collaboration with the co-chairs of the NGO Advisory Panel and the NGO Subgroup on Children and Violence. CRIN does not accredit, validate or substantiate any information posted by members to this Update. The validity and accuracy of any information is the responsibility of the originator.
To subscribe, unsusbscribe or view archives, visit http://www.crin.org/email.
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