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SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2017, para. 100
- Paragraph text
- The mandate of the Special Representative also honours the best of humankind; this comes, not surprisingly, from children themselves. Time and time again, the Special Representative has met children who have emerged from the most terrible nightmares and who yet remain resilient, confident, generous and eager to show the way ahead. In all regions of the world, young advocates join hands with national authorities, civil society and many other allies in raising awareness about the detrimental impact of violence, empowering young people to be the first line of protection from abuse and exploitation, and inspiring many others to build a world where children can grow up respected, nurtured and supported to achieve their ambitions and dreams. Even in the most desperate of situations, children demonstrate hope for a better world and determination to achieve lasting change. This is much more than positive thinking; this is about achieving positive change.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
SRSG on children and armed conflict: Annual report 2017, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Girls are also significantly affected by recruitment and use, with some estimates indicating that as many as 40 per cent of children associated with armed forces or armed groups are female. In addition to the use of girls in support functions, for sexual purposes or to be forced into marriage, they are also used for combat and to commit violent acts. For example, in a particularly grave example, in Nigeria in 2016, girls were increasingly being forced by Boko Haram to be suicide bombers, and were used for the purpose of avoiding detection by security personnel. Although the advocacy that has taken place since the Machel study has led to increased recognition of the plight of girls associated with parties to conflict, they still face significant obstacles in the process of being released and separated from parties to conflict. For example, it was noted in a recent report on the Democratic Republic of the Congo that out of the 1,004 children who had escaped or been separated from one armed group between 2009 and 2014, only 19 girls had been documented. While there was a significant number of young girls present in camps who were allegedly used as wives, concubines, cooks, and combatants in the ranks, male members of the group claimed that these girls were their daughters. In the light of this repudiation of their role, girls are often less visible and are frequently neglected in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes. When their role is recognized, societal factors have an impact, as girls are sometimes reluctant to join disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, fearing rejection by their families and communities. Further action is required in order to raise awareness of the needs of girls in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes and also of the risks that they face after separation from armed groups, with special attention needing to be given to their reintegration into families and communities.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
SRSG on children and armed conflict: Annual report 2017, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- In a particularly important milestone in the reporting period, all Member States concerned by the "Children, Not Soldiers" campaign have now concluded a formal written commitment with the United Nations to end the recruitment and use of children in their security forces. In March, the Government of the Sudan signed its action plan; high-level and technical committees have been established to facilitate and coordinate the action plan's implementation. In 2016, progress has also been ongoing in other countries concerned by the campaign. For example, the Government of Afghanistan endorsed age assessment guidelines for use in recruitment processes for its national defence and security forces. The Democratic Republic of the Congo continued to make progress to address the remaining gaps to prevent the recruitment of children into the country's armed forces, including by realizing most of the goals of the 2015 road map that had been developed to expedite the implementation of the action plan. In Myanmar, 101 children and young people recruited as children were released from the army and reintegrated into their communities during the reporting period. Regrettably, the high levels of conflict intensity in Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen had a detrimental impact on children and continued to hamper progress on existing action plans. Despite positive developments in most countries concerned by the "Children, Not Soldiers" campaign, gaps nevertheless remain in almost all of these countries as regards ensuring systematic prevention and accountability in relation to the recruitment and use of children. Those gaps are outlined in the most recent report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (see A/70/836-S/2016/360).
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2017, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- In the context of her collaboration with the MERCOSUR Permanent Commission of the Niñ@Sur Initiative and the Global Movement for Children, Latin America and the Caribbean section, the Special Representative organized with the Government of Uruguay a regional consultation with children on bullying and cyberbullying. Held in May in Montevideo, the consultation included young participants from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay and provided a platform for young people to make recommendations for the Secretary-General's report on children's protection from bullying and cyberbullying (see A/71/213, para. 27).
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2017, para. Box, p. 5
- Paragraph text
- Bullying has long been part of the social, community and school life of children. With the growing access to information and communications technologies and the wide use of smartphones by children and young people, online bullying - cyberbullying - has also become a source of concern. Spreading rumours, and posting false information, hurtful messages, embarrassing comments or photos, or being excluded from online networks can affect victims deeply. Anonymity may aggravate cyberbullying by encouraging young people to act in ways they would not in face-to-face interactions. In addition, cyberbullying can strike its victims at any time, and the harmful messages or materials can spread fast and far to an exponentially growing audience, multiplying the risks and its damaging impact.
- 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
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2017, para. 88
- Paragraph text
- As part of her commitment to strengthening child participation and engagement with children around the world, the Special Representative was a keynote speaker at the fourth ASEAN Children's Forum, also hosted by the Government of Viet Nam. The Forum provided a platform for children from across ASEAN countries to reflect together on key concerns facing children and young people in the region and to propose recommendations to strengthen the protection of children from violence, to secure online safety and to fight trafficking. In the open debate held between the child representatives, representatives of the ASEAN Commission and the Special Representative, the young participants called for urgent measures to address emerging threats posed by online abuse and cyberbullying and reaffirmed their decisive role as agents of change in bringing an end to violence.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- Certain groups disproportionally exposed to the risk of cyberbullying, for example children with disabilities or special educational needs, are significantly more likely to be bullied than others. Young people with disabilities have indicated that they can be actively discouraged from using the Internet because adults are afraid that they may be bullied or because of concerns about Internet safety. However, those who have participated in consultations on cyberbullying have highlighted the many positive aspects of using the Internet. ICTs and the Internet can help children overcome many of the challenges they may face, including by decreasing social isolation through online participation and the use of social networks. Some children with disabilities expressed the view that using the Internet was liberating and empowering, as it provided a means of dealing with some of their struggles. The Internet allowed them to connect with other people with similar experiences; get support for problems such as bullying from message boards, forums and videos; and build social connections, particularly when they were experiencing social difficulties or isolation.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Persons with disabilities
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 71
- Paragraph text
- The First African Girls' Summit on Ending Child Marriage in Africa was held in Lusaka in November 2015. Hosted by the African Union and the Government of Zambia, the Summit gathered Heads of State and Government, ministers responsible for gender and children, United Nations entities, development partners, civil society organizations and religious and traditional leaders, as well as young people who have experienced child marriage. The participants took stock of the progress made to end child marriage across the continent, shared evidence and good practices and renewed their commitment to bringing an end to this and other harmful practices in Africa.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 79
- Paragraph text
- Young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender are particularly vulnerable to bullying and cyberbullying. As noted in a report of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), although relatively few countries have collected data on homophobic bullying, evidence from all regions of the world suggests that the scale of the problem is significant, with over half of all lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender students in a wide range of countries reporting such incidents. Drawing on important research, the report confirms the need for prevention efforts that address both bullying and cyberbullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender young people.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- LGBTQI+
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- A study published by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children shows that in the United Kingdom, between 15 and 40 per cent of young people are involved in sexting. This includes children younger than 12 years of age, who are often worried, confused and upset by the sexting pressures they face from their peers. The primary technology-related threat is not from strangers but rather from their peers and their social network "friends". Teenagers are aware of how to reduce online risks from strangers, but awareness-raising needs to shift towards reducing the risks from their peers. The role of schools in holding discussions of the sexual pressures that students face and in promoting the support and training of teachers to facilitate these discussions is important.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Harmful Practices
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- Young people may feel inclined to share personal details without taking into account the consequences of their online actions or fail to identify online dangers. For example, children may not appreciate that information or images they share online may be disseminated in ways they do not anticipate; equally, they may not realize that once they share such material they lose control over it. This can be especially problematic when young people produce revealing images or videos of themselves engaging in sexual activity and intentionally share it by any electronic means.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- Engaging with children and young people will continue to be a crucial dimension of this process. Children were eager to help shape the 2030 Agenda and remain strongly committed to playing a crucial role in the work ahead as serious partners and agents of change. As they reiterated in two recent regional consultations supported by the Special Representative in South-East Asia and in Latin America, children have a clear vision of the world they want: across all regions, growing up in safety and free from violence is among their top concerns.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 71
- Paragraph text
- Social engagement through ICTs is now a fundamental part of children's lives, but the manner in which children and young people engage with ICTs is significantly different from that of the previous generation. Children now shift easily between real and virtual worlds, and they regard the online/offline distinction as ever less relevant.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 75b
- Paragraph text
- [Recent research on this topic has revealed a number of significant and worrying developments:] A higher proportion of the content depicting this age group was assessed as being of a higher "severity level" than for the 16- to 20-year-old age group;
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 73
- Paragraph text
- Young people may produce sexually explicit material as a result of peer pressure or as part of an "intimate" relationship. In both cases there is a real risk of the material being viewed by people for whom it was not intended. When such material falls into the wrong hands it can be used to blackmail children and young people into engaging in further risky behaviour, a criminal strategy commonly referred to as sextortion.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 75e
- Paragraph text
- [Recent research on this topic has revealed a number of significant and worrying developments:] The high proportion of content depicting children 13 years of age or younger (85.5 per cent) indicates a need for further research to understand the reasons behind this phenomenon and for awareness-raising campaigns tailored for younger children and their parents to prevent and address the online risks children may face.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on children and armed conflict: Annual report 2016, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- Purely military and security approaches have not proved effective in addressing extreme violence; prevention must be a key component of response strategies. Extreme violence does not occur in a vacuum, which is why it is necessary, as a first step to finding a lasting solution, to identify and address its root causes and catalysts, such as poverty, lack of good governance, political grievances, the alienation of communities and lack of opportunities for youth. Action is required by the international community, regional organizations and individual Member States to mobilize resources to build resilience and strengthen protective environments for children. In countries affected by conflict, education is one tool that can help to prevent social exclusion and promote respect for human rights, peace and diversity, and reduce the vulnerability of children. In addition, the effective reintegration of children associated with armed groups is crucial. Indoctrination and trauma from exposure to extreme violence can increase the complexity of reintegrating children into their former communities. In addition, a new and compounding challenge for Member States is the regular use, by groups perpetrating extreme violence, of propaganda on the Internet and social media to recruit youth and children.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 75a
- Paragraph text
- [Recent research on this topic has revealed a number of significant and worrying developments:] Of the images and videos surveyed, 17.5 per cent depicted children 15 years of age or younger and 85.9 per cent of this content was created using a webcam rather than a mobile device;
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 86
- Paragraph text
- The ASEAN Children's Forum provided a strategic platform for children from across ASEAN to reflect together on key concerns facing children and young people in the region and to propose recommendations to strengthen the protection of children from violence, secure online safety and fight trafficking.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- The vast majority of young people who generate or receive sexts would not tell an adult about it; parents and teachers are considered the last resort for seeking help. While most sexting images are self-generated and distributed on a mobile device, the images move easily from the mobile platform onto social networks, which can result in cyberbullying and online abuse on those platforms.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- Acting as bridge builder and global independent advocate of the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against children, the Special Representative promotes children's freedom from violence in cooperation with United Nations partners, regional organizations, Governments, civil society, academia, professional networks, independent children's rights institutions, religious and community leaders, the private sector, and children and young people.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 87
- Paragraph text
- In the open debate held with child representatives, the young participants at the ASEAN Children's Forum stressed the urgency for action, especially in relation to the emerging threats posed by online abuse and cyberbullying, and reaffirmed their decisive role as agents of change to bring an end to violence.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- The multidimensional nature of violence requires a multifaceted response (see A/HRC/28/55, paras. 83-84). As the Special Representative noted in her previous report to the Human Rights Council, this response needs to capitalize on the opportunities and potential offered by ICTs and be effective in detecting and addressing online abuse, while enhancing children's and young people's skills so that they can explore the online world with confidence and in safety. Moreover, this process needs to bring together all relevant stakeholders; national authorities, schools, academia, civil society and the ICT industry play a crucial role and the active contribution of children needs to be at the heart of these endeavours.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 77
- Paragraph text
- In the context of her collaboration with the Permanent Committee of the "Niñ@sur" Initiative of MERCOSUR and the Global Movement for Children in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Special Representative organized with the Government of Uruguay a regional consultation with children on bullying and cyberbullying. Held in Montevideo in May, the consultation included young participants from Argentina, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay and provided a significant platform for young people to make recommendations for the report of the Secretary-General on protecting children from bullying.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- The First African Girls' Summit on Ending Child Marriage was held in Lusaka in November 2015. Hosted by the African Union and the Government of Zambia, the summit gathered Heads of State and Government, ministers responsible for gender and children, United Nations agencies, development partners, civil society organizations and religious and traditional leaders as well as young people who have experienced child marriage. The participants took stock of the progress made to end child marriage across the continent, shared evidence and good practices and renewed their commitment to end child marriage and other harmful practices in Africa.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2016, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- This topic will figure prominently in the Seventh International Policy Conference on the African Child, to be hosted by the African Child Policy Forum in Addis Ababa in November 2016. The Conference will focus on the protection of children from violence, with a special emphasis on criminal acts of violence against children, and will count on the participation of African Heads of State and Government; civil society, religious and traditional leaders from across the region; leading experts on children's rights; academic institutions; the media; and children and young people.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2015, para. 106
- Paragraph text
- Capitalizing on implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations Study on Violence Against Children, the children's digital agenda should be integrated as a core component of any national comprehensive policy framework to prevent and address all forms of violence against children. The agenda needs to be well-coordinated, adequately funded and include clear time-bound goals and a transparent process to monitor and evaluate progress. The agenda should be promoted with the involvement of all stakeholders, and informed by the views and experiences of children and young people online, including those exposed to abuse. In a number of countries, such as Costa Rica (see box below), child safety online has become a priority in the policy agenda.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2015, para. 79
- Paragraph text
- Research on gangs in Honduras has shed some light on factors that lead adolescents to join or leave a gang. Joining a gang is more likely for a young person whose parents are absent for economic reasons, including as a result of migration, and for whom no other authority figure has stepped in. In one group studied, gang members who had lost their parents saw the gang as a replacement family. In another group, gang members were far more driven by financial reasons, regarding the leader as the boss of the business. Overall, the most common reasons for leaving the gang were the birth of a first child, concern about damage being caused to family members, the opportunity to move to a different neighbourhood, commitment to the community and having a spiritual experience.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Children
- Families
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2015, para. 4
- Paragraph text
- Those are promising developments, yet progress remains slow and uneven and the urgency of protecting children from violence has not diminished. As highlighted by recent United Nations reports, every year almost 1 billion children between the ages of 2 and 14 are subject to physical punishment by their caregivers; 84 million girls are victims of emotional, physical or sexual violence at the hands of their husbands or partners; child trafficking continues to increase, in some regions reaching more than 60 per cent of identified victims; and 8 per cent of global homicides affect children under the age of 15, while more than 50 per cent affect young people below the age of 30.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2015, para. 84
- Paragraph text
- That approach has led to the increasing severity of criminal penalties, the lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility and criminalization of the lower levels of illegal organizations, where the involvement of marginalized children and teenagers is concentrated. Young offenders tend to be incarcerated in overcrowded detention centres, at times together with adults, risking engagement with criminal gangs which control their communities beyond the prison walls. Rather than enhancing prevention, this leads to greater violence.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Children
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph