A/HRC/52/61
I. Introduction
1.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children,
guided by General Assembly resolution 62/141, is an independent global advocate for the
prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against children. In its resolution 76/147,
the Assembly reaffirmed its support for the work of the Special Representative, recognizing
the progress achieved and the role of her mandate in promoting further implementation of
the recommendations of the United Nations study on violence against children 1 and
supporting Member States in their implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. The Assembly has also expressed appreciation for the leadership of the Special
Representative in the follow-up to the United Nations global study on children deprived of
liberty2 and has encouraged her to continue her work in that area.
2.
In the present report, the Special Representative reviews actions she has taken at the
global, regional and national levels to fulfil her mandate as established by the General
Assembly in its resolution 62/141 and provides an overview of the results achieved. She
emphasizes that the need to prevent and respond effectively to violence against children is
more urgent than ever. Ending violence against children cannot wait, as violence continues
to rise and becomes ever more normalized. Too many children are being left behind as a
result of the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, just as ongoing
humanitarian and climate crises have magnified children’s exposure and vulnerability to
violence. The Special Representative stresses that, with less than seven years remaining to
keep the promise made through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the
Sustainable Development Goals to end all forms of violence against children and to address
its drivers, it is time to invest in an inclusive, resilient, healthy, just and safe recovery for all
children worldwide, leaving no one behind.
3.
The present report, which is focused on violence against children in the digital
environment, contains an outline of the diverse forms of violence to which children are
exposed online, emphasizing their co-occurrence in that setting, as well as the continuum
between violence online and offline. The Special Representative stresses the need for holistic
responses to the challenges posed by violence against children in the digital environment,
highlighting the crucial role of children as agents of positive change through identifying and
implementing solutions. The Special Representative invited Member States to inform the
report by submitting information on initiatives related to children’s participation in decisionmaking processes, as well as measures to address children’s rights in the digital environment
and the risks they experience online. The Special Representative is grateful for all
submissions received3 and inputs from a wide variety of stakeholders.
II. Accelerating action to end violence against children by 2030
A.
Investment in child- and gender-sensitive protection and violence
prevention is needed now more than ever
4.
Children’s vulnerability to violence continues to be exacerbated worldwide by
multiple and overlapping crises. These include increasing poverty, social and economic
inequalities, forced displacement, conflict, climate change, environmental degradation,
natural disasters, food insecurity, widespread violence and political instability.
5.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that about 1 billion children
are in multidimensional poverty, while an estimated 356 million children live in extreme
poverty. An additional 100 million children have been plunged into multidimensional
1
2
3
2
A/61/299.
A/74/136.
In response to a note verbale transmitted by the Special Representative on 2 November 2022,
contributions were received from the following Member States: Bulgaria, Colombia, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Ireland, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Republic of Moldova and Senegal.
GE.22-29128