News/Blog

2014 is an important year for children and all those working for their protection, empowerment and wellbeing as it marks the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family. Two important events to highlight the improvements and challenges to protect children from all forms of violence and provide them with full access and enjoyment of their rights, but also to raise awareness about the importance of the family for the development of children, and to take actions and accelerate progress to ensure children’s freedom of violence in their homes.  

Violence against children still remains an important challenge for many children around the world and corporal punishment is still widely used by parents and caregivers to “educate” and “discipline” children, in many cases justified by social, cultural and religious norms. The panel aims to discuss challenges and good practices addressing violence in the family, particularly through preventive mechanisms, positive parenting and enforced legislation. The event will create spaces for dialogue with participants to reflect and identify concrete steps towards the acceleration of progress to end all violence against children in the family. 

 
Ms. Elda Moreno
Special Assistant, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence against Children, United Nations
 
Dr. Susan Bissell
Associate Director, Chief of Child Protection, Programmes Division, UNICEF
 
Mr. Peter Newell
Coordinator, Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children
 
Ms. Maria Lucia Uribe
Secretary General of the Interfaith Council on Ethics Education for Children,
Director, Arigatou International – Geneva