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Summary: Statement by Marta Santos Pais during the presentation of her first report to the Human Rights Council on 11 March 2010.
Mr President
Distinguished Delegates
Dear Friends
It is a great pleasure for me to present before you my initial report to the Human Rights Council. The report reviews key initiatives promoted and presents the priority areas for the work ahead.
As you know, it was only six months ago that I took up the position of Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence against Children. For this reason, today’s dialogue presents a timely opportunity to benefit from your advice and to lay the foundation for a strong collaboration towards the protection of children from all forms of violence, in all settings, the world over. I look forward to joining hands with you in steps forward.
The position of the SRSG on Violence against Children was recommended by the UN Study; endorsed by the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly; and formally established by a decision of the Secretary General. The mandate is fully funded from voluntary contributions, expected to be made available by UN agencies, States and institutions concerned, and the private sector. Firm and predictable support is critical to advance this important agenda.
The SRSG acts as a global independent advocate in favour of the protection of children from all forms of violence, working to keep the topic high in the international agenda, to generate visibility and renewed concern at the negative impact of violence on children, to promote social and behaviour change, and to mobilise support to prevent and combat this child rights violation.
The SRSG is a bridge builder and a catalyst for actions by a wide network of partners, within and beyond the UN system. Partnering with critical stakeholders and promoting good practices and cross fertilisation of experiences between sectors and regions, there is a unique opportunity to re-energize commitment to children’s freedom from violence and to accelerate progress worldwide.
The SRSG’s mandate is framed by the UN Study on Violence against Children and its strategic recommendations and it is embedded in the sound human rights normative framework we all share.
The agenda is clear and opens avenues for a unique process of social change. Moving forward the recommendations of the UN Study, violence against children can evolve from being a concern of a few into becoming a priority for all. Together, we can narrow the gap between international standards and their implementation on the ground. And we can give children, all children, a genuine opportunity to develop to their full potential and to assume an active and confident role in society, a society where violence has no place.
Mr President
The initial months of my mandate have been critical to promote follow-up to the UN Study at the global, regional and national levels; to consolidate strategic alliances and to secure support for my office.
Through the many consultations and meetings in which I have taken part, I have witnessed a shared commitment to consolidate the protection of children from all forms of violence and to move forward the recommendations of the UN Study. Across regions, organizations and institutions, critical processes and initiatives are being promoted to raise awareness about this phenomenon and its impact on children, to break the conspiracy of silence around its occurrence, and to prioritize it as a component of the public debate and of the policy agenda.
It is critical to maintain momentum around this agenda! The recommendations of the UN Study on Violence against Children provide a clear navigation chart to move ahead. They re-energize our determination and leverage accelerated progress in our endeavours.
Violence has a pervasive and long lasting impact on children and also has a tremendous cost for society. This is why I am committed to the following three critical goals:
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the development in each country of a national comprehensive strategy to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against children;
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the introduction of national legislation to prohibit all violence, in all settings;
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and the promotion of a sound system of data and research on violence against children.
Firstly, for any State to successfully combat violence against children, it is essential to develop a clear vision and a well publicized strategy or plan of action to move in that direction. A strategy mainstreamed in national policy and development, rather than a footnote to what is perceived as the critical areas of concern for the government and the nation; a strategy adequately supported by sound human and financial resources, to ensure implementation and achieve steady progress; and also a strategy effectively coordinated by a high level focal point with leading responsibilities in children’s issues, to articulate activities across governmental departments and between national and sub-national authorities, and to promote a transparent process to measure change and impact.
Experience shows and data confirms that violence against children impacts all children’s rights and that it can only be addressed through the systematic and effective engagement of all relevant ministries and all levels of public administration - from health and education, to social affairs, from justice and home affairs, to planning, economy and finance.
In many countries, significant efforts are being deployed to move in this direction. In some cases, the development of the national strategy on violence has been promoted through a widely participatory process, in which governmental departments, civil society organizations, academics and young people have taken part. In a number of other cases, States have set in place national plans of action and high level coordinating bodies to oversee implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, within which violence against children is given a clear and distinct attention.
To move this process forward, strong political will is vital and wide mobilisation of social support remains an asset to break the silence and promote a change in behaviour and in the social acceptance of violence.
Secondly, it is critical to introduce in every country an explicit legal ban on all forms of violence against children. Legislation is an expression of political commitment to work towards the prevention of violence and the protection of children’s dignity and physical integrity. It encourages positive discipline and the education of children through non-violent means, and it promotes conflict resolution without resorting to violence. Legislation is critical to protect witnesses and victims, to enable reporting and redress, and to legitimize assistance, recovery and reintegration for child victims.
Law reform has renewed value when used in support of public information, social mobilisation and behaviour change. When harmful practices persist behind deeply entrenched traditions, legal reform has opened avenues for mobilizing key actors and institutions and engaging communities in the abandonment of those practices. By the same token, adopted legislation has become a critical safeguard against the stigmatization, discrimination and punishment of victims and their families.
This is an area where promising change is taking place. In a number of countries, law reform is being pursued to achieve full prohibition of all forms of violence, and in many others new legislation is under review to introduce a ban on violence in specific settings. In some cases, a monitoring system has also been developed, to support implementation. Building upon strong commitments expressed by countries in all regions, and informed by good practices and lessons learnt from the experience so far, this is an area where progress is within reach.
The third priority area concerns the promotion of research and of a system of sound data collection, analysis and dissemination on violence against children. The practice of violence against children remains pervasive. Information on this phenomenon is scarce and fails to represent the magnitude of violence against children across social groups and nations.
Yet, only with reliable, accurate and objective data it is possible to shape a strategic agenda to address this phenomenon. Without good data, national planning is compromised, effective policy-making and resource mobilization are hampered, and targeted interventions are limited in their ability to prevent and combat violence against children.
This is an area where urgent action is also required. Existing data sets on children provide a sound platform to draw upon, although they need to be compiled and integrated beyond sectors, around a holistic view of the child. They need to be expanded to include all children – boys and girls of all ages and in all settings; and very especially, they need to address those children who have been so far the most invisible, who are also those at greater risk.
Mr President
In this and in all other areas of follow up to the UN Study, joining hands with children and young people is essential. By listening to children’s views and perspectives, informed by their experience, we gain a better understanding of the hidden face of violence and its root causes; we learn about the different ways in which boys and girls suffer from violence and we enhance our ability to shape strategies to address their distinct risks and potential; furthermore, we become better equipped to develop child sensitive mechanisms for counselling, recovery, redress and reintegration of child victims. But also importantly, we can refine preventive tools and child friendly materials to empower children to become the first line of defence, giving them confidence to report cases without fear, and supporting families and professionals in their efforts to prevent and address violence.
Across regions, children express deep concern at the unacceptable levels of violence affecting their lives. They convey fear and trauma, believing they are worthless and abandoned to their suffering. They feel pressed to run away from home and school or care institutions to escape violence and indifference. And yet, they remain actively engaged to raise awareness and inform peers, to support victims and sensitize adults, to discuss solutions and influence change. Children in all regions have very high expectations of all of us!
Mr President
The Human Rights Council has been clear in its formal commitment to integrate the rights of the child in its agenda and in the work of its human rights mechanisms. It would be sufficient to recall the important Special Session recently devoted to Haiti, to be reminded of the risks of violence children face at all times, including when natural disasters paralize governmental structures and institutions.
The Council has also decided to devote at a minimum an annual full day to discuss children’s rights concerns. This year’s debate has left no doubt about the urgency to continue to address violence against children and overcome the many challenges identified throughout the day. The discussions have also highlighted opportunities to move forward within the framework of the UN Study follow up.
I am therefore confident that in the Council’s efforts to mainstream the rights of the child throughout its work, the protection of children from violence will be given the high and steady attention it deserves. I look forward to working closely with you in moving this process forward.