UN Study on Violence Against Children launched
The United Nations has launched a major Study on Violence Against Children. The International Federation of Social Workers has been actively involved in the NGO Advisory Panel for the Study through its Geneva Representative Ellen Mouravieff-Apostol.

The text below has been provided by UNICEF's Press Center:


What is the study?


The UN Study on Violence Against Children is a landmark effort to provide a detailed global picture of the nature, extent and causes of violence against children, and propose clear recommendations for action to prevent and reduce such violence.

As the first report of its kind on this subject, the study is a critical tool to draw much-needed attention to a global problem. Ultimately the purpose of the study is to urge governments to fulfil their obligation to prevent and eliminate violence against children.
How does the study define “violence”?
The study defines violence as the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, that results or is likely to result in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation. The study also bases its understanding of violence on the Convention on the Rights of the Child.


Who is the study being conducted by?


The study was mandated by the General Assembly and the Secretary-General appointed Independent Expert Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro to lead the study. Mr. Pinheiro is a former Secretary of State for Human Rights of Brazil and has directed the country's Centre for the Study of Violence since 1990. UNICEF, WHO and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights collaborated closely to support the work of the Independent Expert. A number of other UN agencies like ILO were also actively involved with the study.


What is the focus of the study?


The study focuses on the nature and extent of violence against children in five settings:
The home and family
Schools and educational settings
Other institutional settings (orphanages, children in conflict with the law)
The community and on the streets
Work situations
For each type of violence, the study reviews what is known about the causes and associated risk and protective factors. Its focus is on prevention strategies, in particular through the identification of best practices in prevention, including those designed by children.

Several cross-cutting issues that increase a child’s vulnerability to violence are also considered in the report, including:

Violence in the media and other virtual settings, including child pornography
Traditional harmful practices, including female genital mutilation and early/forced marriage
Violence against children from ethnic minorities, immigrant or migrant communities
Violence against children infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS
Children as perpetrators of violence, including bullying

For further information in several languages, go to www.violencestudy.org/r25

« back
page last updated on 18.10.2006