violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

“Commitments should be translated into concrete, time-bound targets.”Jaap Doek, Chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child1The first purpose of clear prohibition of violenceis educational – to send a clear messageacross societies that all violence against childrenis unacceptable and unlawful, to reinforce positive,non-violent social norms. There should beno impunity for those who perpetrate violenceagainst children, but care must be taken to ensurethat child victims do not suffer further throughinsensitive enforcement of the law. Prosecutionsand formal interventions, in particular withinthe family, should occur when necessary to protecta child from significant harm and whenjudged to be in the best interests of the child.Strong and enforceable legal sanctions should beimplemented to deter violence against children.3. Prioritise preventionI recommend that States prioritise preventingviolence against children byaddressing its underlying causes. Justas resources devoted to interveningafter violence has occurred are essential,States should allocate adequateresources to address risk factors andprevent violence before it occurs. Policiesand programmes should addressimmediate risk and factors such as lackof parent–child attachment, familybreakdown, abuse of alcohol or drugs,and reducing access to guns and otherweapons. In line with the MillenniumDevelopment Goals, attention should befocused on economic and social policiesthat address poverty, gender and otherforms of inequality, income gaps, unemployment,urban overcrowding, andother factors which undermine society.Prevention takes many forms, including thoseset out in other overarching recommendations:developing a consistent legal and policyframework prohibiting all forms of violence;challenging social norms which condone violence,and enhancing the capacity of all thosewho work with and for children and familiesto promote non-violence.4. Promote non-violent values and awareness-raisingI recommend that States and civil societyshould strive to transform attitudes thatcondone or normalise violence againstchildren, including stereotypical genderroles and discrimination, acceptance ofcorporal punishment, and other harmfultraditional practices. States shouldensure that children’s rights are disseminatedand understood, including bychildren. Public information campaignsshould be used to sensitize the publicabout the harmful effects that violencehas on children. States should encouragethe media to promote non-violent valuesand implement guidelines to ensure fullrespect for the rights of the child in allmedia coverage.Positive, non-violent environments must becreated for and with children, in their homes,schools, other institutions and communities,including through public and parent education,advocacy campaigns and training. Socialand cultural attitudes and actions whichplainly conflict with human rights must beconfronted with sensitivity because of people’sattachment to their traditions.19An end to violence against children