SRSG Santos Pais calls for increased investment in children’s protection from violence to achieve progress across the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda

New York, 9 October 2017 - SRSG Santos Pais shared alarming data on violence against children at the presentation of her annual report to the 72nd Session of United Nations General Assembly on Monday revealing the hidden face of these violations of children’s rights  across regions.

“Every five minutes a child dies as a result of violence; and globally, one billion children experience emotional, physical or sexual violence every year.  This means half of the world’s children!  152 million children between 5 and 15 years of age are victims of labour exploitation, nearly half of them engaged in hazardous work. More than a quarter of victims of trafficking are children, and in some regions the figure is more than 60 percent. And homicides have a young face: 8 percent are children below 15 years of age and more than half below 30,” said SRSG Santos Pais. 

Despite these disturbing figures, SRSG Santos Pais acknowledged positive change happening around the world, and the unique opportunity provided by Agenda 2030 to accelerate progress,galvanize political will and action, and mobilize support to end violence against children.

“The vision of a world without violence is within reach.And change is indeed happening. But the urgency of our cause has not lessened. Failing to invest in violence prevention will hinder social and economic progress across the whole of the 2030 Agenda”, she added.

“Clearly, increased investment in children’s protection from violence is needed. Half of the people living in extreme poverty are children and the youngest are the worst off, with fewer opportunities to thrive and develop to their full potential. And yet, budget allocations for child protection remain largely inadequate”stressed Ms. Santos Pais.

“We must move with a deep sense of urgency! And in this process, everyone is needed: policy makers as well as ordinary citizens, children as well as adults. 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and it will also be the first time the UN General Assembly will review progress in the implementation of Agenda 2030 and SDG target 16.2. Let us all join hands to make this a turning point in our journey to end violence against children,” concluded Ms. Santos Pais.

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