Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children
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| Formation | 1 September 2009 |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Active |
| Headquarters | New York City, US |
| Website | https://violenceagainstchildren.un.org |
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children (SRSG-VAC) is a United Nations mandate acting as an independent global advocate in favour of the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against children, mobilizing action and political support to achieve progress the world over. The mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General is anchored in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international human rights instruments and framed by the United Nations Study.
History and mandate[edit]
In 2001, United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/56/138[1] requested the Secretary-General to conduct an in-depth study on the question of violence against children, following a recommendation of the Committee on the Rights of the Child.
The United Nations Study on Violence against Children (A/61/299)[2] led by Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, addressed violence against children in five settings: the family, schools, alternative care institutions and detention facilities, places where children work and communities. The Study called for urgent action to prevent and respond to all forms of violence and presented a set of 12 recommendations.
UN Study on Violence Against Children[edit]
In February 2003, an Independent Expert, Professor Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, was appointed to lead the in-depth study[3] on violence against children and to make recommendations to respond to the phenomenon, in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNICEF and the World Health Organization.
The United Nations Study on Violence against Children was a global effort to analyze the nature, extent and causes of violence against children, and to propose clear recommendations for action to prevent and respond to it. It was the first time that an attempt was made to document the reality of violence against children around the world and to map out what is being done to stop it.
Starting in 2003, many thousands of people contributed to the study through regional and expert consultations, through questionnaires and in other ways. Children and young people were active at every level.
The report approached the issue from the combined perspectives of human rights, public health and child protection. The participatory processes which led to the report brought together the experience of Governments, international organizations, civil society organizations, research institutions and children.
The UN Study includes a set of 12 overarching recommendations: 1) Strengthen national and local commitment and action; 2) Prohibit all violence against children; 3) Prioritize prevention; 4) Promote non-violent values and awareness-raising; 5) Enhance the capacity of all who work with and for children; 6) Provide recovery and social reintegration services; 7) Ensure participation of children; 8) Create accessible and child-friendly reporting systems and services; 9) Ensure accountability and end impunity; 10) Address the gender dimension of violence against children; 11) Develop and implement systematic national data collection and research; 12) Strengthen international commitment.
To promote the dissemination of the Study and ensure effective follow-up to its recommendations, the Study called for the appointment of a United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children (SRSG).
Mandate holders[edit]
On 1 May 2009, the Secretary-General of the United Nations announced the appointment of Marta Santos Pais of Portugal as his Special Representative on Violence against Children. Marta Santos Pais took up her position on September 1, 2009.
On 30 May 2019, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Dr. Najat Maalla M'jid of Morocco as his Special Representative on Violence against Children.
Dr. Maalla M'jid took up her position on 1st July 2019.
Reporting[edit]
The Special Representative reports directly to the United Nations Secretary-General and submits Annual Reports to the General Assembly[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] and the Human Rights Council[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26], chairs the United Nations Inter-Agency Working Group on Violence against Children that comprises eight UN entities with representatives from UNHCR, OHCHR, UNICEF, UNODC, ILO, IOM, ITU, WHO and collaborates closely with a wide range of partners, including children, at global, regional and national levels within and beyond the UN system.
In addition to her regular annual reports, the SRSG issues thematic reports on key areas of concern.
In November 2012, the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly approved by consensus the omnibus resolution on the promotion and protection of the rights of children A/67/152[27]. The resolution recommended that the Secretary-General extend the mandate of the Special Representative on Violence against Children for a further period of three years and decided that "for the effective performance of the mandate and the sustainability of the core activities the mandate of the SRSG shall be funded from the regular budget starting at the biennium 2014-2015". The was subsequently renewed by the General Assembly in 2015 and 2018.The Special Representative integrates the United Nations Senior Management Group "Senior Management Group". Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)</ref> a high-level forum for policy related matters, planning and information sharing with respect to emerging challenges and cross-cutting issues, chaired by the United Nations Secretary-General, which brings together leaders of United Nations departments, offices, funds and programmes.
The Office of the Special Representative if located in New York and is as part of the United Nations Secretariat.
Secretary-General reports on Bullying[edit]
The General Assembly, in its resolution 69/158 [28], requested the United Nations Secretary-General to submit a report to its seventy-first session on protecting children from bullying. Recognizing that bullying can have a negative impact on the rights of children, the Assembly also requested that the report place an emphasis on its causes and effects and on good practices and guidance to prevent and respond to it. The Office of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence against Children coordinated the preparation of the report.
The report of the Secretary-General submitted to the 71st Session of the General Assembly held in 2015, A/71/213 [29], addressed the prevalence of bullying and its impact on children’s rights, reviewed measures adopted by Member States and other stakeholders to prevent and respond to this phenomenon, identified good practices and provided guidance on priority actions to ensure children’s protection from bullying, including cyberbullying.
The development of the report had special relevance as it was prepared in the second year of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2030 Agenda addresses violence against children as a distinct and cross-cutting concern, and included concrete commitments under several Sustainable Development Goals. Under Goal 16, the 2030 Agenda includes a specific target to end the abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children (target 16.2). Goal 4 4 highlights the importance of knowledge and skills on human rights and the promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence (target 4.7), as well as the provision of child, gender and disability sensitive facilities and safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all (target 4.a). Action on school violence and bullying is also critical to achieve the Goals on gender equality and good health and well-being.
In its resolution 71/176, the General Assembly took note of the report, in particular its conclusions and recommendations, and requested the Secretary-General to submit a follow-up report to the Assembly at its seventy-third session on the implementation of the resolution.
In 2018 the report A/73/265 [30] was submitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly.
Children’s protection from bullying and cyberbullying gained special attention through the adoption of the second report of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly on this topic. Drawing on submissions by governments, civil society and academia, and on three important expert consultations organized in collaboration with the Special Representative in China, Mexico and the Republic of Korea, the report documented positive experiences, highlighted successful approaches to tackling bullying, and identified major areas where further research was needed: investment in prevention, starting in early childhood; the role of teachers in modelling positive behaviour; and breaking the silence around bullying in sports.
The report presented key recommendations, including the need to raise awareness of the severe negative impact of bullying on children’s development, and effective prevention strategies; the importance of closely involving, empowering and consulting with children; the crucial support for, and the engagement of, schools, parents and the community in prevention and response programmes; and the need for a sound legal foundation to underpin public policies and the promotion of restorative approaches.The report reiterated the call of the Secretary-General to strengthen data and research on bullying and cyberbullying to break the shame and silence that often surrounds its victims, and to promote proven prevention initiatives, early detection and response interventions.
Guiding principles[edit]
The United Nations Resolution A/RES/62/141 [31], established the guiding principles of the mandate of the Special Representative requesting the appointee to act as a high-profile and independent global advocate to promote the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against children in all regions, acting as a catalyst to stimulate the engagement of Member States and civil society to prevent and respond to violence against children, keeping the issue high on the international agenda and maintaining the attention to the issue of violence against children achieved through the process of the United Nations study on violence against children.
It also ensured that the mandate would required to be anchored in human rights standards, promoting the universal ratification and effective implementation of core international conventions. The SRSG cooperates closely with human rights bodies and mechanisms, with UN funds and programmes and specialized agencies, and with regional organizations. She also promotes cooperation with national institutions and civil society organizations, including those working for and with children and young people.
The work of the mandate and violence against children[edit]
In June 2020, the Special Representative joined the Executive Directors of the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, UNESCO and the End Violence Partnership to launch the Global Status Report on Preventing Violence Against Children 2020. The first of its kind, the report charted progress in 155 countries against the “INSPIRE” framework, a set of seven strategies for preventing and responding to violence against children.
While nearly all countries (88%) were reported to have key laws in place to protect children against violence, less than half of countries (47%) said these were being strongly enforced.
The report included the first ever global homicide estimates specifically for children under 18 years of age – previous estimates were based on data that included 18 to 19-year-olds. It found that, in 2017, around 40,000 children were victims of homicide.
Of the INSPIRE strategies, access to schools through enrollment showed the most progress with 54% of countries reporting that a sufficient number of children in need were being reached in this way. Between 32% to 37% of countries considered that victims of violence could access support services, while 26% of countries provided programmes on parent and caregiver support; 21% of countries had programmes to change harmful norms; and 15% of countries had modifications to provide safe physical environments for children.
Although a majority of countries (83%) have national data on violence against children, only 21% used these to set baselines and national targets to prevent and respond to violence against children.
About 80% of countries have national plans of action and policies but only one-fifth have plans that are fully funded or have measurable targets. A lack of funding combined with inadequate professional capacity are likely contributing factors and a reason why implementation has been slow.
The report found that around one billion children worldwide - half of the world’s children - endure some form of violence every year. Violence takes place in all contexts, including where children are expected to enjoy a secure environment and special protection - in care institutions, in school and also within the home. Violence against children has dramatic and serious consequences, reducing human capacity and compromising social development.
And yet, it remains hidden and socially condoned. Widely perceived as a social taboo or a needed form of discipline, it is seldom reported; official statistics remain limited in their ability to capture the true scale and extent of this phenomenon; and, openly or implicitly, children feel pressed to conceal incidents of violence and abuse, particularly when perpetrated by people they know and trust. A culture of silence, secrecy and social indifference surrounds this phenomenon, paving the way to pervasive impunity. Violence hampers children’s development and leaves a long-lasting impact. But, as confirmed by many successful initiatives promoted in all regions of the world, violence is not inevitable; it can be prevented and effectively addressed.
Around the globe, political commitments and law reform for children’s protection from violence is gaining momentum and becoming a priority in the national agenda of several States. In 2021, more than 60 countries have introduced a legal ban on corporal punishment in all settings, including in the home.[32] In all regions, legislative reform initiatives are underway to achieve full prohibition. The legislative process has provided unique opportunities to sensitize stakeholders and to involve community and religious leaders, parliamentarians, professional associations, academic institutions and grass-roots organizations in promoting change and prioritizing prevention.
Global Survey on Violence against Children[edit]
In 2013 the office of the Special Representative conducted a Global Survey[33] to assess progress in preventing and eliminating violence against children-the first of its kind since the groundbreaking 2006 UN Study on Violence against Children.
Preparations for the Global Survey began in 2011, five years after the submission of the Study to the General Assembly.
The Global Survey resulted in a wide partnership effort that included responses from over 100 Governments, UN Agencies, regional organizations and institutions and civil society organizations. Children and young people were particularly important partners in the process. Children’s views and recommendations were captured through a child-friendly version of the survey developed in close collaboration with civil society partners.
The Global Survey revealed that children’s protection from violence is gaining increasing recognition in international, regional and national agendas and uncovering how and why children are exposed to violence. It also highlighted strategic actions that were underway in a number of countries to translate this knowledge into effective protection.
It also showed significant normative, policy and institutional developments that advanced national implementation of child protection measures, as well as a revitalization of networks to support advocacy and the development of strategic partnerships. This, in turn, helped to address attitudes and deeply rooted social norms condoning violence against children and has encouraged the mobilization of social support for this cause.
Overarching priorities[edit]
In 2020 the office of the Special Representative on Violence against Children established strategic goals to advance progress in protecting children from violence leaving no child behind.
The goals of the Strategy are: accelerating implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal target 16.2 and other related SDGs; ensuring that all forms of violence are included in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and amplifying the voices of children.[34]
The work of the Special Representative in the Sustainable Development Agenda
In including SDG target 16.2 (“end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children”), the 2030 Agenda placed for the first time the dignity of children and their right to live free from violence and from fear as a priority in the international development agenda.
The launch of the Decade of Action in 2020 took place as the United Nations celebrated its 75th Anniversary under the theme of renewing multilateralism. In 2020, the Special Representative’s Office prepared a briefing note[35] to support United Nations Member States in the preparation of their Voluntary National Reviews (VNR), to highlight the close linkages between the SDGs and ending violence against children.
It encouraged Member States to report on promising practices and initiatives showing that violence against children is preventable when there is political will and commitment as well as on how to include children and young people in the VNR and SDG implementation.
Following the preparation and wide dissemination of the first briefing note[36], the Office reviewed the VNRs presented at the United Nations High-level Political Forum in 2020 and found that Member States were increasingly recognizing that ending violence against children is critical to making progress in achieving the SDGs.
To further support Member States in the preparation of their upcoming VNR reports, the Office of the SRSG prepared an additional document[37] that provided an overview of the VNRs presented as well as important reflections on the reports, including examples illustrating how Member States are incorporating ending violence against children into their national development process.
In 2021 by the request of Member States, the Office reviewed the VNRs presented at the United Nations High-level Political Forum in 2021[38] and found that across the world, progress on the protection of children’s rights has slowed or even been reversed by the COVID-19 pandemic, undermining achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Agenda for Action in response to COVID-19[edit]
Following the Secretary-General’s policy brief on the impact of COVID-19 on children, [39] the Special Representative led the development of an Agenda for Action on child protection during the COVID-19 pandemic in collaboration with the UN Inter-Agency Working Group on Violence[40][41][42][43]. The Agenda for Action was based on the different mandates of the entities involved and provided a child rights and multi-sectoral framework for action.
The Agenda called for strong mobilization of governments, bilateral/multilateral donors, civil society and private sector to:
• safeguard social protection, health, education and protection of children services;
• ensure children are duly protected and have the possibility to thrive and reach their full potential when the crisis is over;
• achieve the Goals and targets of the Sustainable Development Agenda.
CovidUnder19 initiative
In May 2020, the Office of the Special Representative and CSO partners launched a global consultation to understand children's experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and their views on how to get involved in finding solutions to the worldwide crisis.
The initiative brought together children, child human rights activists, experts and other stakeholders, to work together to understand what children experienced due to COVID-19 and involve children in developing responses to crisis. One of the main goals of the #CovidUnder19 initiative was to create spaces for children across the globe to be meaningfully involved in the discussions around issues triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and to contribute towards shaping the post-COVID-19 world.
The survey was designed by child rights experts and 270 children from 26 countries, and translated into 25 languages and an easy read version. Children and young people aged between 8 and 17 years old were invited to participate in the survey until 30 July 2020. Child protection practitioners as well as parents and caregivers were encouraged to facilitate the participation of children.
On 9 December 2020, the results of the global consultation were presented at a global virtual event featuring children as keynote speakers.
The results cover a wide range of topics related to children’s experiences during the COVID19 crisis, their views about family life, education, safety and violence, representation, participation, information and poverty. "Take young people’s opinion into consideration, because they are also a part of the community and they should have the right to express themselves," said a 17-year-old boy from Lebanon in the #CovidUnder19 survey.
The results from the U-Report poll, that used social media to reach out to respondents, show that children have been using peer-to-peer support as a way to cope with the challenges posed by the pandemic. 62% of children said that their friends have helped when they needed emotional or personal support and 58% responded that friends have reached out to them more seeking to provide support since the pandemic started.
However, 38% of the young respondents answered that they felt less safe than before and 50.2% did not know where to ask for help if needed. On the questions about violence online, 43% of the children responded that they had more negative experiences online than before and cyber-bullying was noted as the "worst form of violence online" and the one that has increased the most. Almost 90% of children expressed concern about their future, mainly in matters related to their education and safety.
When asked about future plans for after the crisis, 46.6% expressed the wish to help their family and over 21% said that they would like to be involved with groups or communities, showing children’s true commitment and interest in being part of the solution during the recovery period after the pandemic.
SRSG Field Missions[edit]
Since the establishment of the office, the United Nations Special Representatives have completed 240 field missions in the following countries (81):
| · Andorra
· Argentina · Austria · Barbados · Belarus · Belgium · Belize · Bhutan · Bolivia (Plurinational State of) · Brazil · Bulgaria · Cambodia · Canada · Chile · China · Colombia · Costa Rica · Croatia · Czech Republic · Denmark · Dominican Republic |
· Ecuador
· Egypt · El Salvador · Ethiopia · Fiji · Finland · France · Germany · Ghana · Greece · Honduras · Iceland · India · Indonesia · Ireland · Italy · Jamaica · Japan |
· Lao People's Democratic Republic
· Lebanon · Malawi · Malaysia · Maldives · Malta · Mexico · Monaco · Morocco · Nepal · Nicaragua · Nigeria · Norway · Oman · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Philippines · Poland · Portugal |
· Qatar
· Russia · Slovenia · Solomon Islands · South Korea · Spain · Sri-Lanka · Sweden · Switzerland · Tanzania · Thailand · The Netherlands · Turkey · Uganda · Ukraine · United Arab Emirates · United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland · United Republic of Tanzania · United States of America · Uruguay · Vatican City · Viet Nam |
List of UN Special Representatives on Violence against Children[edit]
| No | Name | Country | Term |
| 1 | Marta Santos Pais | Portugal | 2009 - 2019 |
| 2 | Najat Maalla M'jid | Morocco | 2019 - present |
Publications[edit]
1. Hidden scars: how violence harms the mental health of children
3. A Child-Resilience Approach to Preventing Violent Extremism
4. When children take the lead: 10 child participation approaches to tackle violence
5. Children speak about the impact of deprivation of liberty: the case of Latin America
6. Violence against children on the move - From a continuum of violence to a continuum of protection
7. Keeping the promise: ending violence against children by 2030
9. Violence prevention must start in early childhood
10. Celebrating childhood: A journey to end violence against children
11. Ending the torment: tackling bullying from schoolyard to cyberspace
12. Protecting children affected by armed violence in the community
13. Safeguarding the rights of girls in the criminal justice system
16. Toward a world free from violence - Global survey on violence against children
17. Promoting Restorative Justice for Children
18. Protecting Children from Harmful Practices in Plural Legal Systems with a special emphasis in Africa
20. Prevention and Responses to Violence against Children within the Juvenile Justice System
21. Tackling Violence in Schools: Bridging the Gap between Standards and Practice
References[edit]
- ↑ "Resolution A/RES/56/138". undocs.org. Retrieved 2021-03-12. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Resolution A/RES/61/299". undocs.org. Retrieved 2021-03-12. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "WORLD REPORT ON VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN" (PDF). February 2003. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the UN General Assembly 9 August 2010". undocs.org. Retrieved 2021-03-12. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the UN General Assembly 2 August 2011". undocs.org. Retrieved 2021-03-12. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the UN General Assembly 3 August 2012". undocs.org. Retrieved 2021-03-12. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the UN General Assembly 6 August 2013". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the UN General Assembly 6 August 2014". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the UN General Assembly 5 August 2015". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the UN General Assembly 25 July 2016". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the UN General Assembly 2 August 2017". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the UN General Assembly 30 July 2018". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the UN General Assembly 30 July 2019". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the UN General Assembly 27 July 2020". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the Human Rights Council 3 February 2010". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the Human Rights Council 28 February 2011". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the Human Rights Council 13 January 2012". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the Human Rights Council 4 January 2013". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the Human Rights Council 3 January 2014". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the Human Rights Council 30 December 2014". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the Human Rights Council 5 January 2016". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the Human Rights Council 3 January 2017". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the Human Rights Council 22 January 2018". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the Human Rights Council 9 January 2019". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the Human Rights Council 20 December 2019". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SRSG Annual Report to the Human Rights Council 28 December 2020". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Resolution A/RES/67/152". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Resolution A/RES/69/158". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "A/71/213". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "A/71/213". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "A/RES/62/141". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "States prohibiting all corporal punishment of children, including in the home". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Toward a world free from violence" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "2020 Strategy Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "National Voluntary Reviews 2020" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Voluntary National Reviews 2020" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Reflections on reporting in the 2020 Voluntary National Reviews" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Reflections on reporting in the 2021 Voluntary National Reviews" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "UN Policy brief on the impact of COVID-19 on Children" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Agenda for Action Arabic" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Agenda for Action English" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Agenda for Action Russia" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Agenda for Action Spanish" (PDF). Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
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