Plan International: No more excuses! – beyond the UN study on violence against children

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Plan has welcomed the launch of the United Nations’ (UN) first-ever global study on violence against children.

The study, which was produced with children and a range of agencies, including Plan, took four years to compile. Its overriding aim is to act as a turning point – an end to adult justification of violence against children.

Plan fully supports the findings of the study but argues that it doesn’t go far enough - and ultimately relies on the goodwill and voluntary participation of states in addressing the issue of violence against children.

Plan’s head of child protection, Paul Nolan, said:

“It’s time to move beyond the UN study on violence with further, stronger and faster action. It’s everyone’s responsibility: governments need to be made to live up to their obligations, international organisations need to have more consistent, concerted, and coordinated action, and communities and parents have to put the safety and wellbeing of their children first. Equally as important – we all have to start listening to children more.”

Plan is already investing heavily in programs around the world to address the causes and consequences of violence against children.

Our work focuses on violence of all kinds but especially as it is experienced within the family, in school and in communities.

The UN study’s recommendations include strengthening national and local commitment and action; prohibiting all violence against children; prioritising prevention; and ensuring participation of children.

Facts and figures

  • 53,000 children were murdered in 2002
    between 20 and 65 per cent of school-aged children reported having been verbally or physically bullied
  • 150 million girls and 73 million boys under 18 experienced forced sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual violence
  • between 100 and 140 million girls and women in the world have undergone some form of female genital cutting
  • 218 million children are involved in child labour, 126 million of them in hazardous work
  • 1.8 million are involved in prostitution and pornography
  • 1.2 million are victims of trafficking

 

 

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