[child-rights] Children, Torture and other Forms of Violence

29/8/2002
PRESS RELEASE–PRESS RELEASE–PRESS RELEASE

Launch of the conference report:

« Children, Torture and other Forms of Violence
Facing the Facts, Forging the Future »

September 3rd 2002: A simultaneous press conference in 8 countries around 
the world


Over the past six years, OMCT has documented and acted on 3.600 cases of 
children who have become the victims of torture, summary executions, forced 
disappearances, arbitrary arrests and other more subtle forms of violence, 
with these violations having occurred in 63 countries.

OMCT's experience over the last decade has clearly shown that cases of 
torture and ill-treatment of children are not sporadic or isolated acts. 
Rather, they have very often proven to be a part of a systemic phenomenon, 
where violence is widespread and violent behaviour is the norm within the 
family, the community and state institutions.

Violence is perpetrated against children in both private and public 
settings – their families, communities, detention centers, schools and 
other institutions – by parents, carers, educators, employers, peers, armed 
groups and state officials of all kinds. Whatever the setting, the state 
has ultimate responsibility for deterring violence and providing effective 
protection and remedies, including early assistance and support to children 
following trauma.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most widely ratified human 
rights instrument, and other international norms and standards affirm 
children's status as holders of human rights. These include the right to 
respect for human dignity and physical and psychological integrity and to 
equal protection under the law, without any form of discrimination.

The "International Conference on Children, Torture and Other forms of 
Violence: Facing the Facts, Forging the Future" brought together 183 
participants from 73 countries in all regions, representing a wide range of 
international and national NGOs, other organisations and observers from 
governments and international governmental organizations. The conference 
received the official support of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for 
Human Rights and saw the participation of Mary Robinson, UN High 
Commissioner for Human Rights; Peter Burns, Chair of the UN Committee 
against Torture; Jaap Doek, Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the 
Child, as well as representatives of regional human rights mechanisms.

The conference adopted a declaration and regional plans of action with 
concrete, realistic and measurable goals aiming at the long term 
elimination of torture and violence against children.
In particular, the Tampere declaration recommended to the United Nations 
and UN-related bodies:

1. That the UN Commission on Human Rights appoint a Special Rapporteur on 
Violence against Children in order to, inter alia, solicit, receive and 
exchange information and communications, including individual complaints 
and on systematic violations, from all relevant sources, including from 
children themselves, on any form of violence or ill-treatment they may be 
subjected to, as well as its causes and consequences;

2. That the UN Secretary-General appoint an internationally-respected 
independent expert to head a well-qualified team to conduct the in-depth 
international study on violence against children requested by the UN 
General Assembly, and that the study be conducted in line with the 
recommendations set out by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, 
consulting all relevant sources including children;

3. That the Committee on the Rights of the Child produce General Comments 
on the provisions relating to children and violence in the Convention on 
the Rights of the Child, in particular articles 19 and 37, taking into 
account the special vulnerability of children to torture and other forms of 
violence, and that violence may affect different children in diverse ways, 
depending on factors including age, sex, and disability, and underlining 
state parties' obligations to prevent and remedy such violations;

The conference report, which includes the outcome document of the 
conference as well as the presentations made by the relevant speakers, will 
be launched on September 3rd 2002 in a simultaneous press conference in 8 
countries around the world: Bahrain, Colombia, India, Israel/Palestine, 
Peru, the Philippines, Senegal and Switzerland.

In Geneva, the launch of the report will take place on

Tuesday 3 September 2002
Club Suisse de la Presse
La Pastorale, Route de Ferney 106 – Geneva
at 11.00 am

with the presence of
Mrs Micheline Calmy-Rey, President of the Conseil d'Etat de la République 
et Canton de Genève
Mr Bertrand Ramcharan, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights
Mrs Elisabeth Reusse-Decrey, President of OMCT
Mr Eric Sottas, Director of OMCT
Ms Roberta Cecchetti, Children's Rights Programme Manager, OMCT

For further information, please contact:
Roberta Cecchetti
Children's Rights Programme Manager
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
Tel. +41-22-809.49.39