[child-rights] Human Rights Council debates UN expert's report on violence against children

19 March 2007 -- The Geneva-based Human Rights Council today held a
special debate on violence against children looking at how best to
follow-up on last year's study by an independent United Nations expert
that calls for a wide range of measures, covering the responsibility of
governments and others, to stamp out the global scourge.

"While legal obligations lie with States, all sectors of society, all
individuals, share the responsibility of condemning and preventing
violence against children and responding to child victims. None of us can
look children in the eye if we continue to approve or condone any form of
violence against them," states the report written by Paulo Sergio Pinheiro
and presented to the General Assembly in October.

Speaking during today's debate in Geneva, Mr. Pinheiro said high-level
global attention to the problem of violence against children was crucial
for increasing awareness and ensuring the political will and adequate
resources necessary to foster change.

The UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kyung-wha Kang said that
the UN and its partner agencies were fully committed to ensuring that Mr.
Pinheiro's recommendations were followed up, and especially his efforts to
develop a long-term strategy for combining public health, education, child
protection and human rights in a common approach.

Representatives from over 20 countries and regional groups also spoke
during the debate, along with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and UN
agencies, including the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

"The core message of the Study is that no violence against children is
justifiable; all violence against children is preventable," states Mr.
Pinheiro's report. "Member States must act now with urgency to fulfil
their human rights obligations and other commitments to ensure protection
from all forms of violence."

The report covers cruel and humiliating punishment, genital mutilation of
girls, neglect, sexual abuse, homicide and other forms of violence against
children, painting a sobering picture backed up by statistics and in many
cases the testimonies of children themselves.

Most of the 10 pages of recommendations and follow-up are directed
primarily at States and refer to their legislative, administrative,
judicial, policymaking, service delivery and institutional functions,
while also emphasizing the primacy of the family.

UN News Service