Child Helpline International input in the UN Study on Violence against Children

[21 November 2006] - Child Helpline International and its members have actively participated in the United Nations Violence Against Children Study (UN VAC). In 2004 and 2005, CHI’s members actively participated in UNVAC regional consultations. This year, CHI submitted an abstract on the role of telephone helplines as an effective strategy in protecting children against violence. Not only has the abstract Extending Access to Helplines been published in the World Report on Violence Against Children but child helplines have been recommended as a key proposal to creating accessible and child-friendly systems and services.

Overarching recommendation 8 of the report states: I recommend that states should establish safe, well-publicised, confidential and accessible mechanisms for children, their representatives and others to report violence against children. All children, including those in care and justice institutions, should be aware of the existence of mechanisms of complaint. Mechanisms such as telephone helplines through which children can report violence, speak to a trained counselor in confidence and ask for support and advice should be established and the creation of other ways of reporting violence through new technologies should be considered.

In support of the recommendations, Child Helpline International has attended the UN VAC study’s launch at UNICEF in New York and the Asian regional launch in Bangkok in October. Further, CHI took part in a discussion on the way forward in Geneva in November. In addition, member helplines have participated in regional UN VAC launches when possible.

 

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