A/HRC/13/46

This report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence

against Children is submitted to the Human Rights Council in accordance with General

Assembly resolution 64/146.

Ms. Santos Pais assumed her position on 1 September 2009. In this preliminary

report, she recalls the history leading up to the establishment of the position of the Special

Representative, and the scope of the mandate, as defined by General Assembly resolution

62/141. She outlines her vision and priority areas for her work and the strategies she

intends to use to achieve progress in implementing the mandate entrusted to her, which

builds upon the recommendations of the United Nations study on violence against children

(A/61/299).

The report highlights the need to accelerate progress in key strategic areas and the

special emphasis the Special Representative will place on three overarching

recommendations of the study, namely the development in each State of a comprehensive

strategy on violence against children; the introduction of an explicit national legal ban on

all forms of violence; and the consolidation of national data collection, analysis and

dissemination, and research in this field.

The report reviews key developments and initiatives promoted by the Special

Representative during the initial months of her mandate to advance progress in the study

follow-up at the global, regional and national levels; to promote a consultative process and

strengthen strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, including Governments, United

Nations partners, human rights bodies and mechanisms, civil society organizations and

children and young people; and to secure firm support for her mandate.