A/HRC/16/54

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children

hereby submits her second report to the Human Rights Council in accordance with General

Assembly resolution 65/197.

In the report, the Special Representative is guided by the United Nations study on

violence against children (A/61/299) and builds upon the vision and priority areas of work

identified in her initial report (A/HRC/13/46).

The Special Representative reviews progress in the priority areas of her mandate,

and highlights key initiatives promoted by her to institutionalize regional governance

structures and to strengthen strategic alliances with key partners at the international,

regional and national levels. In spite of a growing commitment across regions to address

violence against children, this phenomenon continues to have a serious impact on the lives

of millions of children. In this context, the Special Representative identifies areas of

concern to be given special attention in 2011: (a) promoting universal ratification of the

Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child; (b) conducting a global

survey to assess progress in violence prevention and responses; and (c) addressing violence

in the context of education and of the administration of justice.