About
the UN study, Q & A
1) What is the UN Study on Violence Against
Children?
The study is a landmark effort to provide a
detailed global picture of the nature, extent
and causes of violence against children, and
propose clear recommendations for action to
prevent and reduce such violence.
As the first report of its kind on this subject,
the study is a critical tool to draw much-needed
attention to a global problem. Ultimately the
purpose of the study is to urge governments
to fulfil their obligation to prevent and eliminate
violence against children.
The study was mandated by the General Assembly
and the Secretary-General appointed Independent
Expert Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro to lead
the study. Mr. Pinheiro is a former Secretary
of State for Human Rights of Brazil and has
directed the country's Centre for the Study
of Violence since 1990.
2) How does the Study define “violence”?
The study defines violence as the intentional
use of physical force or power, threatened or
actual, which results or is likely to result
in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment
or deprivation. The study also bases its understanding
of violence on the Convention on the Rights
of the Child.
3) What prompted the Study?
The issue of violence has come up in a number
of country reports submitted to the Committee
on the Rights of the Child. It became apparent
that there was a need for a better understanding
of the global scope of the problem and mechanisms
to measure and address it.
Following two days of discussion on violence
against children in 2000 and 2001, the Committee
on the Rights of the Child recommended that
the Secretary-General be requested, through
the General Assembly, to conduct an in-depth
international study on violence against children.
The Commission on Human Rights passed a resolution
supporting this recommendation, and requested
the appointment of an Independent Expert.
4) What is the focus of the Study?
The study will focus on the nature and extent
of violence against children in five settings:
- the home and family
- schools and educational settings
- other institutional settings (orphanages,
children in conflict with the law)
- the community and on the streets
- work situations
For each type of violence, the Study will review
what is known about the causes and associated
risk and protective factors. Its focus will
be on prevention strategies, in particular through
the identification of best practices in prevention,
including those designed by children.
Several cross-cutting issues that increase
a child’s vulnerability to violence will
also be considered in the report, including:
- violence in the media and other virtual settings,
including child pornography
- traditional harmful practices, including female
genital mutilation and early/forced marriage
- violence against children from ethnic minorities,
immigrant or migrant communities
- violence against children infected with or
affected by HIV/AIDS
- children as perpetrators of violence, including
bullying.
5) Why is violence against children
during armed conflict not included in the Study?
The impact of armed conflict on children was
fully addressed by Graça Machel’s
1996 landmark study. The Study will, however,
address some aspects of violence that children
experience due to the instability caused by
armed conflict, such as domestic violence.
6) Which UN agencies are involved in
the Study?
UNICEF, WHO and the Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights will collaborate closely to
support the work of the Independent Expert.
A number of other UN agencies like ILO are also
actively involved with the Study.
7) When will the Study be finalized?
The study is being produced over two years.
The final report will be submitted by the Independent
Expert to the Secretary-General, who is expected
to present the recommendations of the report
to the General Assembly in October 2006. The
document will be a brief and policy-oriented
presentation of the relevant findings and clear
recommendations, designed for the primary audience
of States/Governments.
Two separate reports are also planned:
- A more elaborate publication that will echo
the key recommendations of the General Assembly
Study Report and provide more in-depth information
about the situation of children, best practices
and implementation.
- A child-friendly version of the Study Report,
designed specifically for children and young
people.
Printable
version
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