Submitted by crinadmin on
Summary: The Panel, established in 2003 to support the UN Secretary General’s Study on violence against children, held its final meeting in New York on May 27 and 28 2006.
The Panel, established in 2003 to support the UN Secretary General’s Study on violence against children, held its final meeting in New York on May 27 and 28 2006. Twelve members of the original Panel attended. They were joined by eight youth members of the Panel from various regions who had been taking part in the Young People’s meeting with others from all regions. The two-day meeting started with report-backs on: - the conclusions of the young people’s meeting; The NGO Advisory Panel will be dissolved following the launch of the report of the UNSG’s Study in autumn 2006.
- the work of Independent Expert Professor Paulo Pinheiro’s Editorial Board, which has included two representatives of the NGO Advisory Panel;
- progress with preparation of the Independent Expert’s report to the General Assembly (GA) and of the longer book to be published simultaneously, together with child-friendly materials, from Amaya Gillespie, Director of the Study Secretariat.
The Panel spent the two days in detailed discussion of the latest draft of recommendations to be included in the report to the General Assembly and arrangements for the launch of the report. The Panel also discussed plans for a successor representative body of NGOs to work with the follow-up, and for a Children’s Council. Both these bodies would work closely with the proposed Special Representative to the Secretary General on the elimination of all violence against children.
The Panel resolved to send urgently to the Independent Expert detailed comments and proposals on the final form, style, tone and recommendations of the report to the General Assembly.
It was agreed that there should be some evaluation of the effectiveness, influence and achievements of the Advisory Panel. Detailed proposals for the establishment of a successor body to the Panel would be circulated, including how to achieve regional and other representation, criteria for membership, method of selection involving an independent element and so on. It was hoped that the new global NGO body would work closely with and perhaps hold occasional joint meetings with the proposed Children’s Council.