—Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children

The world was not on track to end violence against children before the arrival of COVID-19.  It is apparent now that the pandemic threatens to reverse the limited gains made for children. The pandemic is harming children worldwide, affecting the poor and vulnerable children the most. In the words of Mr. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, “what began as a health crisis risks evolving into a broader child-rights crisis.”  And it has. 

The mitigation measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have increased the risk of violence both at home and online. The pandemic is disrupting provision of already limited child protection services everywhere and leaving significant negative effects on children’s mental health and well-being. The immense socio-economic impact of the pandemic is exacerbating child poverty and vulnerability to many forms of violence, including child marriage, child labor, trafficking, recruitment in armed or violent extremist groups, and sexual exploitation and abuse. 

Even though the world was in a different place when the Panama Declaration on Ending Violence against Children was adopted by the participants of the Fifth Forum of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) in 2017, the 10 Commitments co-created with children are relevant today more than ever. We know religious leaders and faith-based communities command extraordinary moral authority, they foster dialogue, help to bridge differences, and influence thinking and behaviour change even during the pandemic. 

We also recognize the tremendous resilience and leadership of children as we are seeing an increase worldwide in children’s engagement: children, deriving from their innate sense of responsibility creativity, and solidarity, are taking an active role in helping each other and their families in the time of pandemic. They are creating awareness, supporting each other, documenting their experiences, helping their communities, and suggesting solutions.

At the same time, far-reaching consequences of the COVID-19 crisis call for children and all dimensions of their rights to be prioritised in the pandemic response and recovery planning. We must ensure that child protection services are identified as essential and life-saving – along with physical health, mental health, education, and justice services – and built on a solid and sustainable social protection system that are considered as investment.  

To do so, strong multi-sectoral mobilization of governments, the international community, civil society, faith-based organizations, and private sector must be steered in this direction. In the Nelson Mandela Lecture in July 2020, the Secretary-General said, “It is clear that countries must make an effort to invest more … for a new generation of social protection policies that can address the dramatic situation of those that are in more poor and more vulnerable conditions.” This must become the principle of a New Social Contract in the post pandemic world, where children and young people live with dignity, enjoy prospects and opportunities and are safe from violence.

The World Day of Prayer and Action for Children, celebrated annually on Universal Children’s Day on 20 November, provides an occasion for gathering and mobilization of wider partnerships to bring tangible, positive impact on children’s lives and communities around them in the building back better period. 
We need to mobilize all stakeholders in order to keep the promise of the 2030 Agenda to end violence against children, leaving no one – no child – behind. The strong commitment to dignity, equality and responsibility of religious communities and faith-based organizations such as Arigatou International and its partners will help influencing thinking and behaviour across nations, religions and faiths to help building back better and to ensure children are involved as an active part in this process. 

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More than 187 people tuned in for the panel discussion “Investing in Integrated Services to Prevent and Respond to Violence against Children,” held online on 17 March 2022 at the margins of the 49^th Human Rights Council.

The event was organized by the Office of the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children and the Child Rights Connect Working Group on Children and Violence, composed of 17 civil society organizations, co-convened by Arigatou International – Geneva and World Vision International.

During the discussions, member states, UN entities, civil society and children themselves shared their experiences and perspectives on assessing the cost of violence, as well as the dividend paid by spending on effective violence prevention.

Ms. Maria Lucia Uribe, Executive Director of Arigatou International Geneva welcomed the participants highlighting the Working Group’s commitment to contribute to advancing the 2013 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular the goals and targets related to preventing violence against children.

The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children. In her opening remarks, she stressed how violence against children is increasing more and more, but at the same time, it is becoming less visible.

She ensured that all forms of violence against children can be stopped. “Yes, we can stop violence against children because we know what to do and how to do it. We need to invest in cross-sectoral integrated services that are child and gender-sensitive and inclusive, with access to all children, independent of their status,” she stated.

Speakers discussed how investing in integrated services to prevent and respond to violence against children is essential to realizing children’s rights, enhancing accountability and ensuring sustainable human capital development. They also highlighted the importance of mobilizing all key stakeholders, including children themselves.

“Decisions concerning our own safety and well-being, lie not in our hands, but in the hands of adults,” said Ojaswi, a 17-year-old girl from India, reflecting on how providing a platform for children’s meaningful participation is one of the biggest steps to ending violence against children by 2030. She called on decision-makers to listen to children and to include them in the discussions of issues that affect them. “We are not just your future, we children exist now and we are an as larger part of the present as you are (…) So include us, children, in the fight for our rights and well-being,” she concluded.

Januka, a young activist from Nepal, stressed that having policies and guidelines is not enough. The programs need to be implemented to have a real impact: “There is a strong base in Nepal for child participation, but we also face many challenges. Despite good guidelines and policies, the most challenging issue is implementation,” she explained.

Panelists also included Ms. Maria do Livramento Silva, President of the Cabo Verde Institute of Child and Adolescence, Ministry of Family, Inclusion and Social Development; Mr. Mohammed Meqdady, Secretary-General of the National Council for Family Affairs, Jordan; Ms. Dana Buzducea, Partnership Leader, Advocacy and External Engagement, World Vision International, and Mr. Cornelius Williams, Director of Child Protection, UNICEF.

During the discussion, panelists spoke of the devastating and long-lasting effects of violence on children, families and societies as a whole. Investing in integrated services for children was presented as a high-return solution, which must be seen as an integral part of implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child and every government’s overall economic growth and development strategy. It is also a cornerstone of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The full recording can be found HERE.

We thank the panel of speakers for sharing their knowledge, reflections and good practices; and the attendants, for their interest in stopping violence against children.

The post Investing in Integrated Services to Prevent and Respond to Violence against Children: A conversation at the margins of the Human Rights Council appeared first on Ethics Educations for Children.

More than 187 people tuned in for the panel discussion “Investing in Integrated Services to Prevent and Respond to Violence against Children,” held online on 17 March 2022 at the margins of the 49^th Human Rights Council.

The event was organized by the Office of the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children and the Child Rights Connect Working Group on Children and Violence, composed of 17 civil society organizations, co-convened by Arigatou International – Geneva and World Vision International.

During the discussions, member states, UN entities, civil society and children themselves shared their experiences and perspectives on assessing the cost of violence, as well as the dividend paid by spending on effective violence prevention.

Ms. Maria Lucia Uribe, Executive Director of Arigatou International Geneva welcomed the participants highlighting the Working Group’s commitment to contribute to advancing the 2013 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular the goals and targets related to preventing violence against children.

The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children. In her opening remarks, she stressed how violence against children is increasing more and more, but at the same time, it is becoming less visible.

She ensured that all forms of violence against children can be stopped. “Yes, we can stop violence against children because we know what to do and how to do it. We need to invest in cross-sectoral integrated services that are child and gender-sensitive and inclusive, with access to all children, independent of their status,” she stated.

Speakers discussed how investing in integrated services to prevent and respond to violence against children is essential to realizing children’s rights, enhancing accountability and ensuring sustainable human capital development. They also highlighted the importance of mobilizing all key stakeholders, including children themselves.

“Decisions concerning our own safety and well-being, lie not in our hands, but in the hands of adults,” said Ojaswi, a 17-year-old girl from India, reflecting on how providing a platform for children’s meaningful participation is one of the biggest steps to ending violence against children by 2030. She called on decision-makers to listen to children and to include them in the discussions of issues that affect them. “We are not just your future, we children exist now and we are an as larger part of the present as you are (…) So include us, children, in the fight for our rights and well-being,” she concluded.

Januka, a young activist from Nepal, stressed that having policies and guidelines is not enough. The programs need to be implemented to have a real impact: “There is a strong base in Nepal for child participation, but we also face many challenges. Despite good guidelines and policies, the most challenging issue is implementation,” she explained.

Panelists also included Ms. Maria do Livramento Silva, President of the Cabo Verde Institute of Child and Adolescence, Ministry of Family, Inclusion and Social Development; Mr. Mohammed Meqdady, Secretary-General of the National Council for Family Affairs, Jordan; Ms. Dana Buzducea, Partnership Leader, Advocacy and External Engagement, World Vision International, and Mr. Cornelius Williams, Director of Child Protection, UNICEF.

During the discussion, panelists spoke of the devastating and long-lasting effects of violence on children, families and societies as a whole. Investing in integrated services for children was presented as a high-return solution, which must be seen as an integral part of implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child and every government’s overall economic growth and development strategy. It is also a cornerstone of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The full recording can be found HERE.

We thank the panel of speakers for sharing their knowledge, reflections and good practices; and the attendants, for their interest in stopping violence against children.

The post Investing in Integrated Services to Prevent and Respond to Violence against Children: A conversation at the margins of the Human Rights Council appeared first on Ethics Educations for Children.

Arigatou International has launched the 2nd call for the Children’s Solutions Lab, inviting applications from the public throughout the month of March. In these applications, children’s groups (at least 4 children) around the world are invited to submit projects led by them that can propose context-sensitive and unique solutions to poverty affecting children in their communities. The projects are expected to address the ethical challenges and the cultural norms that can lead to poverty and suggest solutions for this based on education. These children can be attached to an organization, school, social club or place of worship. While the ideas are by children and implemented by children, adults in these groups/organisations will are encouraged to be available to support the children.

First launched in 2020, the the Children’s Solutions Lab aims to support young people in taking action to address poverty affecting children in their communities through solutions based on education. The Children’s Solutions Lab seeks to promote ethical reflections among children about the root causes of poverty and how some cultural norms can impact the wellbeing of children and, ultimately, lead to child poverty. Overall, aims create meaningful, participatory spaces and opportunities where children are empowered to lead, develop and implement relevant actions with regards to addressing poverty, through education.

Like in the first call, applications will undergo an international selection process though which 5 finalists will emerge. The 5 will be supported through a micro-grant and accompaniment from Arigatou International to implement their idea. The first Children’s Solutions Lab process attracted applications from 37 organizations, representing 23 countries. Five finalists from Cuba, India, Peru, Kenya, Serbia were selected and supported to implement their idea. The process reached to more than 2000 children.

By being part of the Children’s Solutions Lab, you contribute to the greater need to have children as active participants in issues affecting them and communities at large.

Apply to the Children’s Solutions Lab today: bit.ly/33XhTe4   or https://arigatouinternational.org/all-with-children/empowerment/children-solutions-lab/ 

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