20 November 2014 — Universal Children's Day On the occasion of Universal Children's Day, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Marta Santos Pais, called upon governments, civil society, and communities arou
20 November 2014 — Universal Children's Day
On the occasion of Universal Children's Day, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Marta Santos Pais, called upon governments, civil society, and communities around the world to renew their commitment to ending all forms of violence against children.
"Universal Children's Day reminds us of the responsibility we all share to create a world where every child can live free from fear, free from violence, and free from exploitation," said SRSG-VAC Marta Santos Pais.
The 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), adopted on 20 November 1989, provided a powerful backdrop for reflection on the progress achieved and the challenges that remain in the global effort to protect children from violence.
The SRSG urged States to ratify and implement all child rights instruments, strengthen national child protection systems, and invest in evidence-based prevention programmes that address the root causes of violence against children in all settings — at home, in schools, in care and justice systems, and in the community.
The United Nations Study on Violence against Children (2006) remains the foundation for global efforts, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — with its explicit target to end all forms of violence against children (SDG 16.2) — provides a renewed framework for action.