violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

“No matter whether violence against children occurs in the family, school, community, institution orworkplace, health workers are the front line for responding to it. We must make our contribution to ensuringthat such violence is prevented from occurring in the first place, and that where it does occur children receivethe best possible services to reduce its harmful effects.”Anders Nordström, Acting Director-General, WHO1into the legal framework for child protectionand must inform the training of all those whowork with children and families. Child victimsof violence must not be simply objects ofconcern, but treated as individual people withrights and views of their own. Children mustinvariably be listened to and taken seriously.8. Create accessible and child-friendlyreporting systems and servicesI recommend that States should establishsafe, well-publicised, confidentialand accessible mechanisms for children,their representatives and othersto report violence against children. Allchildren, including those in care andjustice institutions, should be awareof the existence of mechanisms of complaint.Mechanisms such as telephonehelplines through which children canreport violence, speak to a trained counsellorin confidence and ask for supportand advice should be established and thecreation of other ways of reporting violencethrough new technologies shouldbe considered.Retrospective studies, questioning young adultsabout their childhood experiences, reveal that themajority of child victims did not talk to anyoneor approach child protection services duringtheir childhood, even in States which havehighly developed systems. Reasons included notknowing where to go for help, a lack of services,lack of trust in the services or in some cases fearof reprisals from the perpetrator.In many countries, certain professional groupsare under a legal obligation to report any concernsabout violence against children undermandatory reporting systems. In a few countries,the public are under the same legal duty.The Study has heard varying views aboutmandatory reporting. It is essential that everyGovernment should review existing reportingsystems and involve children or young adultswith recent experience of child protection servicesin the review.In every locality and every setting whichincludes children, there should be well-publicisedand easily accessible services required toinvestigate reports or indications of violenceagainst children. There should also be access toservices where children can go to talk in confidenceabout anything that is worrying or hurtingthem. Providing confidential services forchildren – services which guarantee that theywill not report to others or take action withoutthe child’s consent, unless the child is at immediaterisk of death or serious harm – remainscontroversial in many countries. Making confidentialservices available to children, includingthose most vulnerable to violence, challengesoutdated concepts of parental ‘ownership’ oftheir children. Yet what we now know aboutintra-familial violence demands that childrenshould have the rights to seek confidentialadvice and help.9. Ensure accountability and end impunityI recommend that States should buildcommunity confidence in the justicesystem by, inter alia, bringing all perpetratorsof violence against childrento justice and ensure that they areheld accountable through appropriate21An end to violence against children