A/74/259
I. Introduction
1.
The present report reviews developments promoted by the Special Representative
of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children at the global, regional and
national levels and provides an overview of the results achieved.
2.
Guided by General Assembly resolution 62/141, by which the Assembly
established the mandate, the Special Representative is a global, independent advocate
for the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against children.
3.
At its seventy-third session, the General Assembly reaffirmed its support for the
work of the Special Representative and recommended that the Secretary-General
extend the mandate for a further three years and maintain support for its effective and
independent performance and sustainability (resolution 73/155, paras. 55–56).
4.
In renewing the mandate, the General Assembly recognized the progress
achieved in promoting the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against
children in all regions, and in advancing the implementation of the recommendations
of the United Nations study on violence against children, including through
partnerships with regional organizations, as well as through advocacy, field missions,
expert consultations and thematic reports addressing emerging concerns.
5.
On 1 July 2019, Najat Maalla M’jid assumed the position of Special Representative.
In this her first report as Special Representative to the General Assembly, and in view
of the limited time that has elapsed since her appointment, she sets out the approach
and working methods she intends to follow in implementing her mandate.
6.
In November 2019 the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention
on the Rights of the Child will be celebrated. Realizing every child ’s right to freedom
from violence is a fundamental dimension of the Convention: it explicitly prohibits
torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; bans the use of the
death penalty and life imprisonment for children; makes imperative the protection of
children from harmful practices, as well as fro m sexual exploitation and abuse, from
sale, trafficking and any other form of exploitation; prohibits school violence and any
form of school discipline contrary to the child’s human dignity; and safeguards
children from the hidden manifestations of violenc e within the home or institutions
for the protection of children.
7.
The inclusion of a specific target to end all forms of violence against children
in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (target 16.2 of the Sustainable
Development Goals), gives renewed impetus towards the realization of the right of
every child to live free from fear, neglect, abuse and exploitation. Several other
Sustainable Development Goal targets promote an environment of safety and
non-violence for children, address specific forms of violence in childhood such as
child marriage and female genital mutilation, and the eradication of child labour,
including the recruitment and exploitation of children as soldiers.
8.
The Special Representative will continue to use the opportunit y presented by
the 2030 Agenda to accelerate progress towards the elimination of all forms of
violence against children.
9.
In 2019, the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary -General on
Violence against Children will mark its first 10 year s. The passing of this milestone,
together with the review of the first phase of implementation of the 2030 Agenda and
the thirtieth anniversary of the Convention, is an appropriate moment to take stock of
progress towards ending violence against children, identify shortfalls and highlight
what more needs to be done to accelerate progress.
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