International Day of Non Violence: Exploring solutions to end violence against children | WPN World People News

Violence against children crosses social, economic and cultural lines, affecting millions of children worldwide. In an effort to address this issue and provide solutions, UNICEF’s Office of Research reached out to experts globally and gathered more than 100 years of expertise into a video debate focusing on the plight of violence against children.

The Debate – which goes live on the International Day of Non Violence (2 October) - explores some of the strategic and operational challenges related to prevention of violence and addressing its underlying drivers.

Given the hidden nature of the issue, data about violence against children is difficult to collect. However, it is estimated that about 20 per cent of women and up to 10 per cent of men report being sexually abused as a child. Amongst the topics highlighted in the Debate highlights are the role of civil society, government accountability, gender-based violence and HIV, and the urgency to invest in services and prevention, among other topics.

The expert panel includes Ms Amie Kandeh, a leading voice on violence in Sierra Leone; Mr Oswaldo Montoya, Global Coordinator of the MenEngage Alliance; Ms Nduku Kilonzo, Executive Director of Liverpool VCT; and Ms Diane Swales, UNICEF's Child Protection Advisor for East Asia and the Pacific Region.

The Debate is supported by some 15 written 'Commentaries' from experts such as Dr Alex Butchart, from the World Health Organization, and Jim Mercy, from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, covering areas including: programmatic and research challenges, the importance of helplines, merging approaches to women and children and HIV and violence considering sexual, physical and emotional violence issues.

Source: United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund