Special Event “Violence against Children”- LB

4th Session of the Human Rights Council
Special Event “Violence against Children”– 19.03.06

1. Intervention by the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms Kyung-wha Kang: Talking about the follow-up to the study’s recommendations, the High commissioner sees as essential that the Council provides leadership. The study makes 5 recommendations for its implementation in 2007:
a. Strengthening the legal frameworks towards the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
b. Prevention.
c. Promotion of participation of children in follow-up processes.
d. Integration of measures to prevent and respond violence against children in national action plans.
e. Strengthening of data collection.
On its part the High Commissioner and the OHCR are committed to cooperate with the Council, the member states, Mr. Pinheiro, all relevant UN agencies and civil society.

2. Statement of the Independent Expert for the SG’s Study on violence against children Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro: Violence against children remains hidden in many cases, thus more important is it to work on prevention. The study must be regarded as a tool for states in accordance with international organizations and civil society. The follow-up of the study includes more dissemination (translation of study-materials, publication in schools).

3. New Zealand’s delegate affirms the importance for a follow-up strategy in time for the UN GA in October 2007. She reminds how children with vulnerabilities are often targets of sexual violence, as other studies have shown.

4. Save the children and other ONG have made a statement in which they stress the importance to include children in decision making processes related to the study.

5. World Population Foundation raises the issue of child marriage, a form of sexual violence to children.

6. Union de l'Accion Féminine makes reference to children taken in hostage in conflicts situations and for this reason want the UN to be more active in inspecting in war areas.

7. The Association for World Education raises the question of female excision as well as of child marriage, both being practiced in many countries yet.

8. The representative of UNICEF underlines how an increasing number of governments make use of UN data and have action lines regarding violence against children: 26 (+12) respectively 64 (+10) in 2006. Work is being undertaken towards a Convention on the rights of disabled persons as well as towards strengthening measures of assistance in this area. Capacity building remains strongly dependent on donor aid though. Legislation at national level is crucial in order to obtain results in the follow-up of the study. The problem of disaggregated data remains an issue. A child-protection strategy for the next 10 years is being planned for autumn with following features.

9. The delegate from the WHO speaks on the issue of data: The organization works for universal standards, building up more capacities in the collection of data and finally supports surveys on the national level.

Documents:

The study: http://www.violencestudy.org/r1,
Resolutions: General Assembly 61/146. Rights of the child,
57/190. Rights of the child
Questionnaire to East Timor:
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/CRC/docs/study/responses/Timor-Leste.pdf

LB