VIOLENCE: Children prepare for launch of Arabic Violence Study

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Save the Children – working to make children’s voices count in consultations for the UN Study on Violence against Children

[CAIRO, 22 June 2007] - Children are gathering in Cairo to participate in a number of activities organised by Save the Children and the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (Egypt) to prepare for children’s participation in the launch of the UN Study on Violence against Children, Arabic version.

A trainer from Save the Children Sweden will be working together with a group of 18 children, between 15 – 18 years old, who will act as representatives for the Middle East and North Africa region in promoting their message to Governments that children want an end to all forms of violence carried out against them.

The need is urgent: 97 per cent of the world’s children do not have the same legal protection against violence as adults and are subjected to all forms of violence at schools, and in their homes.

The group will participate and share their voices and concerns on the matter of violence that greatly affects their lives, at the Launch of the UN Study on Violence against Children from the 25th to 27th of June. Save the Children has been a key actor in the UN study, supporting children worldwide to take part, and submitting reports on the issues of children in conflict with the law, physical and humiliating punishment and sexual abuse.

Save the Children is calling for all governments to:

  • ban all forms of violence against children wherever they occur
  • create an effective national child protection system
  • establish a child-friendly juvenile justice system
  • mobilise men and boys in the battle to end gender discrimination and violence against children
  • establish mechanisms to involve children directly in the design and implementation of policies and programmes that address the violence against them

Save the Children works to protect and promote children’s rights in accordance to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The convention gives children the right to express their views on all matters concerning them, therefore enabling children to participate and make their voices be heard and count. This is a primary pillar and objective of Save the Children’s work.

For further information, to confirm attendance or to arrange interviews, please contact:

Edith Karam, Regional Communications Officer, Save the Children Sweden, MENA Office, Beirut Tel: +961 (0)1 738 654/5 or +961 (0)3 128 834, www.scsmena.org

Further information

Issues: 
Child participation

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