Violence Against Children : Part of the Routine ?

An estimated 300 million children worldwide are victims of violence on a regular basis. Violence is routinely used against the most vulnerable children: those who are deprived of family protection, for example in orphanages, on the streets, in refugee camps and war zones, in detention centres and in the workplace. Children can also be mistreated in the very places where they should be most protected: at school and within their family. The consequences of violence against children can be devastating, ranging from early death to lasting physical or psychological scars.

Through its work, Terre des Hommes is directly confronted with children’s suffering and can hear their voice. Terre des Hommes runs projects promoting children’s rights and providing psychosocial support, legal assistance and recovery as well as social reintegration services to prevent and address all forms of violence against children. It is engaged in juvenile justice programmes to provide alternatives to detention. It also promotes awareness about the grave consequences of violence against children, and informs children and youth about ways to protect themselves.

In 2006, the UN Secretary-General’s Study on Violence against Children was presented to the UN General Assembly and to the world. This landmark study represents a broad consensus on the need to end violence against children, and sets the framework for doing so. Terre des Hommes participated in different events and research projects leading to the completion of the UN Study, and has used its recommendations to shape its programmes.

Violence Against Children: UN Special Representative Appointed

The United Nations has appointed its first Special Representative on Violence Against Children, Marta Santos Pais (Portugal), a well-known and well-respected advocate for the rights of the child. Terre des Hommes International Federation warmly welcomes this nomination, and is looking forward to working closely with Ms Santos Pais to protect children from all forms of violence.

The position is established for three years; Ms Santos Pais will be based in New York and will receive administrative support from UNICEF. As Special Representative she will, among other things, be in charge of giving a higher international profile to the issue, of interacting with and supporting stakeholders who address this problem, and of stimulating innovative research. She will also make country visits, during which she will meet state representatives as well as civil society organizations, and she will report to the Human Rights Council as well as to the UN General Assembly.

Peru: Restorative Juvenile Justice

In Peru, in collaboration with its partner Encuentros, Terre des Hommes (Foundation-Lausanne, Switzerland) runs a project on restorative juvenile justice with minors in conflict with the law. During the first three years, 460 children have been defended by an interdisciplinary team of lawyers, social workers and psychologists. For 70%, imprisonment has been avoided, thanks to socio-educational measures that favour their reintegration into their families and communities.