violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

“Too often, we see that legislation is on the books but that many children remain on the marginsof society – not registered at birth, not in school, too poor to see a doctor and, for that,all the more vulnerable to violence and abuse.”Rima Salah, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF354The way forwardlence against children, integrated into nationalplanning processes, is essential for the successof this endeavour. Stopping violence againstchildren requires not only sanctioning perpetrators,but also transformation of the “mindset”of societies and the underlying economicand social conditions that allow violenceagainst children to thrive.Strong regional support for the implementationof the recommendations is also important.Regional mechanisms can play a significantrole in bridging gaps in technical expertise,sharing best practices and assessing progress.Regional networks established during theStudy process have continued in various formsin each of the regions. For example, in theMiddle East and North Africa, an expandedregional network which includes Governmentrepresentatives and the Arab League is takingaction to implement the Study recommendationsrelated to a range of regional priorities. 2The South Asia Forum, established in 2005 asa result of the Regional Consultation hostedby the Government of Pakistan, has begun toimplement the Study recommendations witha focus on the issues of early marriage, andphysical and psychological punishment. Inaddition, the Council of Europe has launcheda three-year programme, “Building a Europefor and with Children.” This programmetakes into account the various dimensions ofviolence against children in two closely linkedstrands: the promotion of children’s rights,and the action programme “Children andViolence.” 3 In the strand focused on promotingchildren’s rights, the programme will helpEuropean States to set up integrated children’spolicies and comprehensive legal frameworks.The action programme against violence supportsStates in their obligations to ensure theprotection of children, prevention of violence,prosecution of criminals, and participation bychildren.At an international level, it is also expectedthat the UN supports countries in their task ofimplementation, mainstreams the recommendationsof the Study Report to the UN GeneralAssembly (elaborated in this book), and monitorsachievements. The coordination amongthe various UN entities involved in this processis again essential to ensure the continuityof the holistic and multidisciplinary approachsuggested by the Study. Bearing this in mind,the report recommended that a Special Representativefor the Secretary-General’s Studyon Violence against Children be appointed,to provide a focal point and act as a globaladvocate on the issues of violence againstchildren, building on the worldwide momentumgenerated by the Study process and thereport itself. In an effort to accelerate progressat country level, a global Inter-Agency Groupon Violence against Children was establishedin 2005, chaired by UNICEF with the directsupport of OHCHR and WHO. Membershipincludes a range of other UN agencies andNGOs. These efforts should contribute to theUN reform process by increasing coordinationamong existing entities, refining and clarifyingmandates, and increasing the attentiongiven to violence against children across andwithin existing mandates.