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Summary: Statement delivered by the Regional Representative to the NGO Advisory Council for follow up to the UN Study on Violence Against Children for the Middle East and North Africa at the 62nd session of the General Assembly on 19 October 2007.
Middle East and North Africa Statement, 19 October 2007 Your Excellencies We, 62 civil society organizations from 13 countries in MENA region, signatories of the petition believe that it is seriously important to appoint a special representative on violence against children to follow up on the study recommendations. The MENA region report on violence against children indicates that children are exposed to all forms of violence at all levels, and that the main source of violence is within households as a result of the cultural patrimony which consider the practice of physical or verbal violence as an effective educational method. Indicators confirm the growing size of multiple forms of violence against children in the region. It is widely known that the Middle East provides a particular context for violence against children due to foreign occupation and armed conflicts, reasons that do not only exacerbate violence in general and specifically violence against children, but also represent an obstacle to counteracting this violence. For this reason, that will need to be a special coordination between the special representative for children in armed conflicts and the proposed special representative on violence against children. The UN study has played an important role in raising awareness about the issue of violence against children in the region and breaking the silence that surrounded it. However, the region requires intensive and wide efforts to raise public awareness on children's rights as well as the importance of children participation. It also needs additional national and regional coordination in order to translate the findings and recommendations of the study into realistic policies and plans of action and involve children fully in its elaboration. Moreover, it is important to provide the technical and financial support needed to strengthen the protection mechanisms in MENA region. We are counting in your support, Thank you Thaira Shalan NGO Advisory Council at the 62nd session of the General Assembly
Arab Council for Childhood & Development
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