Thousands of children in countries across six continents are coming together on 19th October to demand their governments put an end to violence against children.
Save the Children's Day of Action sees children in over 60 countries staging events to protest against all forms of violence suffered by children, including physical and humiliating punishment, sexual abuse and exploitation, early marriage, neglect and torture.
Jasmine Whitbread, CEO of Save the Children.
“The Day of Action is a powerful call from thousands of children across the world to stop the horrendous violence millions of boys and girls are suffering on a daily basis. It is fantastic to see so many children coming together on this crucial day. World leaders must sit up and listen to their demands, and act decisively to stop violence against children.”
Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Secretary General, Save the Children Sweden
“Violence against children is a serious breach of children's rights, which must end now. Let us continue to work together to make this world; A world free of any forms of violence against children.”
Violence against children is an international crisis affecting every country in the world. 40 million children under the age of 15 are victims every year, yet 97 per cent of all children do not have the same legal protection against violence as adults.
In Eastern and Central Africa in particular, Save the Children Sweden supported the establishment of national committees for the UN Study in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Sudan with representatives from government and non-governmental actors. Children’s participation was very dominant.
Governments in Eastern and Central Africa have been diligent in participating in international agreements designed to guide countries in incorporating universally accepted minimum standards into their national laws. These international agreements which have been ratified include the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 182 (1999) on the worst forms of child labour.
In some countries in the region, governments have attempted to move to action through the development of National Plans of Action (NPA) for children, or on specific issues such as orphans and vulnerable children, trafficking or child labour. NPA bring together the many different groups that work with children, so that they can decide what actions need to be taken as a matter of priority and discuss who will be best placed to take on the different responsibilities.
The United Nations Study on Violence Against Children
The United Nations Secretary General has appointed an Independent Expert, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, to lead a global study on Violence Against Children. The Study, rooted in children’s human rights to protection from all forms of violence, aims to promote action to prevent and eliminate violence against children at international, regional, national and local levels. The Study is a UN-led collaboration, mandated by the General Assembly, to draw together existing research and relevant information about the forms, causes and impact of violence which affects children and young people (up to the age of 18 years).
A major report will be published in 2006 and recommendations presented to the UN General Assembly.
Key findings of the Study in East and Central Africa regarding violence against children:
• Incidences of physical punishment against children still occur despite it being banned by law;
• All forms of violence that happen in the home environment and in schools, are under-reported;
• The impact of HIV/AIDS in the region has left children more vulnerable to violence such as physical and sexual abuse and exploitation;
• Sexual abuse of children is most common at homes and in schools. Girls are most vulnerable as they are usually targeted by perpetrators;
• Harmful cultural practices still exist among communities. The most common are Female Genital Mutilation and early childhood marriage;
• Many children in the region particularly those from countries that have been affected by pro-longed civil war have been at high risk of abuse and exploitation, with a number of children having been separated from their families, having lost their families or still living as refugees in the region.
Download the publication "Ending Physical and Humiliating Punishment against Children: Summary"