Search Tips
sorted by
30 shown of 306 entities
SRSG on children and armed conflict: Annual report 2010, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- [Vulnerabilities and risks faced by children who are internally displaced during armed conflict – addressing their rights]: Ultimately, displacement should be a temporary condition and a durable solution should be secured where all those who were internally displaced no longer have any specific protection and assistance needs linked to their displacement and can enjoy their human rights without discrimination. States have a responsibility to create the conditions for a durable solution to displacement, either through voluntary return, integration or resettlement. The best interests of a child – determined through participatory, age-appropriate and gender-competent assessments – should always be the primary consideration when seeking a durable solution.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
SRSG on children and armed conflict: Annual report 2010, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- The Special Representative welcomes and appreciates the strengthened collaboration between her Office and the United Nations human rights system, and reiterates her continued support, including sharing regular information and advocating the protection of children affected by armed conflict. The Special Representative emphasizes that unless all parties to conflict adhere to their commitments, comply with their international obligations and are held accountable for non-compliance, the plight of children in situations of armed conflict risks deterioration. To this end, the Special Representative offers the following recommendations.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2010, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- To inform the development of the report, the Special Representative will organize with OHCHR an expert consultation on this topic in September 2010. The meeting aims to provide a comprehensive overview of existing models of accessible and child-friendly counselling, complaint and reporting mechanisms, established at governmental level, and by independent institutions and civil society organizations; to reflect on challenges and good practices in the use of such mechanisms by children and their representatives, including in relation to child participation, accessibility, confidentiality, safeguard of privacy and victims' protection; and to make recommendations for their improvement.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
SRSG on children and armed conflict: Annual report 2010, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- [Vulnerabilities and risks faced by children who are internally displaced during armed conflict – addressing their rights]: In situations of internal displacement, the freedom of movement of the affected population, including their right to move freely in and out of camps and settlements should be respected. For children, it entails the right to move freely with their family. Few threats to a child’s well-being equal that of being separated from his or her family during conflict, and for these children all possible action should be taken to prevent separation from their families and to ensure rapid reunification in the case of separation. To this end, displaced children, in particular separated and unaccompanied minors, should have their own identity documentation in order to enjoy their full legal rights and to have access to basic social services, such as health care and education.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2010, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- The situation of those children remains hidden and surrounded by stigma, and is seldom envisaged as a priority in the policy agenda. There is scarce information on the numbers of children deprived of liberty and on the reasons that lead to their placement in justice and care institutions; independent monitoring mechanisms are rarely available to safeguard their rights and address their complaints; and sensationalistic information, combined with ill perception of growing juvenile delinquency, fuel social pressure for the criminalization of children and adolescents, and for the introduction of increasingly lower ages of criminal responsibility and longer measures of deprivation of liberty. This is a pattern that helps to create a culture of tolerance of violence against children, and which often contributes to the stigmatization of children belonging to poor and disadvantaged groups.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Children
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
SRSG on children and armed conflict: Annual report 2010, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- In the previous report of the Special Representative to the General Assembly, concerns related to internally displaced children were highlighted and the report included an annex specifying the rights and guarantees for this vulnerable group (A/64/254, annex I). The Assembly acknowledged the guarantees in its resolution 64/162 on the protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons. These rights and guarantees include the principle of non-discrimination, the right to documentation, protection from violence and abuse, the right to essential services, and the requirement that when dealing with internally displaced children the best interest of the child must prevail.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2010, para. 8c
- Paragraph text
- [According to General Assembly resolution 62/141, the Special Representative on violence against children will:] Assist States in their efforts to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against children, particularly to promote a gender perspective and the participation of children, and ensure: - The development of a comprehensive national strategy, policy or plan of action on violence against children, integrated into the national planning process, with realistic, time-bound targets, well resourced, coordinated by an agency with the capacity to involve multiple sectors and systematically evaluated; the adoption of national legislative and other measures to prohibit and eliminate all forms of violence against children, in all settings - The development of national research and the consolidation of data collection, analysis and dissemination systems to inform effective action, mobilize adequate resources and assess progress achieved - The investment in the prevention of violence with the consideration of its underlying causes and risk factors - The promotion of non-violent values and awareness-raising activities to overcome the invisibility and social acceptance of violence against children, support the abandonment of harmful practices and promote positive forms of discipline and child development approaches - The protection of children from violence by those who work with and for children, including through the development of systematic education and training programmes, and the promotion of codes of conduct and clear standards of practice - The provision of accessible, child-sensitive and universal health and social services to ensure children's recovery and reintegration - The establishment of safe, well-publicized, confidential and accessible mechanisms to enable reporting of violence against children and the filing of complaints - The adoption of measures to fight impunity, including through the investigation and prosecution of violence against children and the imposition of appropriate penalties
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2010, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- As a cross-cutting issue, working to eliminate violence against children opens up avenues for developing partnerships across mandates - including child-related mandates - through cooperation with the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery and, in particular, the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, with whom regular meetings have been held to exchange information and strengthen collaboration. Similarly, cooperation will be valuable with violence-related mandates, including on violence against women and torture; with economic, social and cultural rights-related mandates, to help address the root causes of violence; as well as with others, such as those mandates on the rights to education, freedom of opinion and expression that can help to empower children and young people, enhance prevention efforts and consolidate a culture of respect for children's rights in society. These are important partnerships that the Special Representative will continue to promote.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2010, para. 95
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing the importance of violence prevention, she called for steady investment in early childhood education to ensure the development of children's talents and abilities to their full potential, to break the cycle of poverty and disadvantage for young people and to promote their social inclusion. Young children are indeed at particular risk of violence and they are also less able to resist and seek protection; fear and trauma compromise their development and threaten their sense of security and trust. Conversely, loving, secure and stimulating relationships of young children with their families and caregivers build a foundation for their physical, emotional and intellectual development and enhance their confidence and free agency.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
SRSG on children and armed conflict: Annual report 2010, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- The Human Rights Council is encouraged, when considering or adopting resolutions on country-specific situations or thematic issues, to include therein recommendations on, or references to, protection of children affected by armed conflict.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2010, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- In the discussions, which gave particular attention to the protection of children from violence, including child maltreatment and its underlying causes, special emphasis was placed on strategies aimed at developing safe, stable and nurturing relationships between children and their parents and caregivers; promoting life skills for children and adolescents; reducing the availability and harmful use of alcohol, and access to guns and knives; promoting gender equality, change of cultural and social norms that support violence and victim identification, care and support programmes. Advancing work in these areas will remain a key dimension of the Special Representative's cooperation with WHO.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Children
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2010, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- By December 2009, initial contributions had been received. Although such positive developments are welcome, additional secure funding is required to enable the Special Representative to effectively pursue her role as a global advocate for violence prevention and the protection of children from all forms of violence.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2010, para. 8b
- Paragraph text
- [According to General Assembly resolution 62/141, the Special Representative on violence against children will:] Identify and share good practices and promote cross-fertilization of experiences between actors, and across regions and sectors;
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
SRSG on children and armed conflict: Annual report 2010, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- [Vulnerabilities and risks faced by children who are internally displaced during armed conflict – addressing their rights]: The Guiding Principles assert that children, especially unaccompanied minors, as well as expectant mothers and mothers with young children, are “entitled to protection and assistance required by their condition and to treatment which takes into account their special needs” (Principle 4.2). The Principles also affirm the right of families to remain together and to be rapidly reunified (Principles 7 and 17); protection of children from sale into marriage, exploitation and forced labour (Principle 11); protection of children from recruitment or from taking part in hostilities (Principle 13); the right to documentation in their own names, including birth certificates (Principle 20); and the right to education, including the equal participation of girls (Principle 23).
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Girls
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
SRSG on children and armed conflict: Annual report 2010, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- [Vulnerabilities and risks faced by children who are internally displaced during armed conflict – addressing their rights]: States and all parties to conflict have obligations under international humanitarian and international human rights law to protect internally displaced children in all phases of displacement. The most fundamental of their rights is the right to life, dignity and physical, mental and moral integrity. Displacement almost inevitably entails severe threats to the right to life. Therefore, the physical safety of the affected population, particularly women and children, in zones of armed conflict should be the highest priority. Protected safe spaces for displaced children should be guaranteed - both for those seeking to escape imminent harm, as well as for those who have reached a place of safety such as an IDP camp but who continue to face security threats, or are at risk of further displacement. Children should also have access to the fullest extent and with the least possible delay to the humanitarian assistance they require, including food, potable water, shelter, health care and psychosocial services.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons on the move
- Women
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
SRSG on children and armed conflict: Annual report 2011, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- At the start of any conflict, community leaders should be persuaded to make a special effort to negotiate with parties to ensure that schools are designated as “zones of peace” and are not the targets of attacks or use by military forces or armed groups. In this way, children will be free to pursue their education without abuse or violence. Community-based action to protect schools is another way in which to ensure that children are safe. Maintaining a degree of normalcy in the lives of children during conflict, through the continuation of schooling, sustains their development, while protecting them from recruitment by armed actors.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2011, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- Dimensions such as these are vital to enable schools to identify early warning signs of violence, to support children at special risk and to provide timely and effective support in an ethical and child-sensitive manner.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
SRSG on children and armed conflict: Annual report 2011, para. 60d
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Representative urges the international community:] To address the political, social and economic factors that facilitate the recruitment and use of children;
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2011, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- At the request of the Human Rights Council, the Special Representative joined the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography in the preparation of a report on effective and child-sensitive counselling, complaint and reporting mechanisms to address incidents of violence, including sexual violence (A/HRC/16/56). The Council has urged States to ensure that such mechanisms are confidential, age-appropriate, gender-sensitive, disability-sensitive, safe, well publicized and accessible to all children. A similar recommendation was made in the United Nations study on violence against children.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2011, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- Children with disabilities are less able than other children to escape the threat of violence or to report the abuses that they have endured. These difficulties become insurmountable when their only point of reference is the abuser, be it a family member, a neighbour or a professional worker on whom they depend. They may be unwilling to complain, fearing that if they do so they will lose the support of caregivers and the attention and affection of those on whom they have come to rely. Access to counselling, reporting and complaint services may be physically difficult to gain.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2011, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- For vulnerable groups of children, including girls, children with disabilities, children belonging to minority or indigenous groups, and children affected by HIV and AIDS, these efforts must be redoubled. Such children face particular challenges in gaining access to schooling and in remaining in school. They are more likely to be subjected to violence or to be disregarded when they seek advice about or report incidents of violence. As a result, they may end up choosing not to report violence for fear of drawing attention to themselves.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
SRSG on children and armed conflict: Annual report 2011, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- Little is known of the strategies used by armed actors to access children for these acts of violence. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that families are forced to hand over their children to take part in these actions, and there have also been cases of poor families being induced by armed groups to give their children away, through the promise of money. The use of very young children and/or disabled children for such acts is also a horrifying trend of grave concern. There is an urgent need to fill the knowledge gap and to reach a better understanding of how these acts could be prevented. Concomitantly, there is a need to better address the stigmatization of, and prejudice against, children suspected of collaboration with armed actors, which lead to other violations including beatings, threats to children and their families, acts tantamount to torture, arbitrary arrests and detentions. In this context, particular attention must be given to young children, girls and disabled children.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
SRSG on children and armed conflict: Annual report 2011, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- The Special Representative expresses her appreciation for the strengthened collaboration between her Office and the United Nations human rights system, and reiterates her continued support, including through regular information-sharing and advocating for the protection of children affected by armed conflict. The Special Representative wishes to reiterate that, unless all parties to conflict adhere to their commitments, comply with their international obligations and are held accountable for non-compliance, there will be no improvement in the situation of children in armed conflict. To this end, the Special Representative makes the recommendations below.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2011, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- Moreover, incidents reported by children with disabilities are largely dismissed; there is a prevailing perception that such children are easily confused and are unable to provide convincing and accurate testimony.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2011, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- In the light of these concerns, the report to the Human Rights Council presents a set of guiding principles based on human rights standards, as well as practical recommendations to accelerate progress in making safe, child-sensitive and effective mechanisms available to all children. These mechanisms need to be established by law and to have well-defined mandates, guided by the best interests of the child and informed by children's experiences and perspectives. They need to be well publicized and made accessible to all children, without discrimination of any kind, and must guarantee children's safety, ensure confidentiality and allow for prompt and speedy response and follow-up.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
SRSG on children and armed conflict: Annual report 2011, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- In her previous reports, the Special Representative has consistently noted with concern the increasing trend of attacks on education. Such acts include the partial or total destruction of schools and other education facilities and threatened or actual targeting of education personnel. Attacks on education undermine the establishment of a protective environment for children and their chances for a better future. In addition, violent attacks on girls and targeted attacks on their education undermine their role in society and prevent them from exercising their rights.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2011, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- The lives of children with disabilities are fraught with stigma, discrimination, cultural prejudices, misperceptions and invisibility. Their capacity and their positive potential are often ignored. Their existence is often marked by neglect, violence, injury and exploitation. In spite of the limited amount of data and research in this area, available studies reveal an alarming level of risk for violence against children with disabilities, ranging from high vulnerability to physical and emotional violence when they are young to greater risks of sexual violence as they reach puberty.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
SRSG on children and armed conflict: Annual report 2011, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- Perceptions of discrimination, social injustice, political exclusion and economic disparity are often motivating factors for children to join armed groups. Compounded with collective identity, defined often in ethnic, regional or religious terms, these perceptions become potent mobilizers of communities, including children. Loyalty to the group sometimes becomes a bargaining tool for armed groups, and members of the community are called upon to play their part and contribute their children to the struggle. Children are susceptible to these demands, not only as a result of social pressure or a sense of obligation, but also as a consequence of personal injustices suffered. When crimes against children are committed with impunity, many join armed groups motivated by a desire for revenge.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2011, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- When used as beggars, children with disabilities are subject to violence to keep them on the streets, and often suffer physical abuse to attract attention and encourage charity. In schools that are often of low quality, they endure beatings, bullying, neglect and abuse by their peers and by ill-prepared teachers who fail to understand and attend to their special needs. For children placed in institutions with ill-trained, ill-paid and often frustrated staff, in an environment of stigmatizing attitudes in the community, there are increased risks of physical violence and of verbal and emotional abuse.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2011, para. 73
- Paragraph text
- In the recent past, there have been significant legislative developments in this area. In some countries, new laws have been enacted to prevent bullying, as was the case in 2011 in Peru. In others, legislation has been adopted that addresses incidents of violence more broadly. For example, in India the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 bans the physical punishment and mental harassment of children. The Act provides for disciplinary measures in the event of the violation of this ban and recognizes the responsibility of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights in monitoring its implementation and safeguarding the rights of the children concerned.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph