Cross-Regional Roundtables

Cooperation with regional organizations and institutions has been a cornerstone of the Special Representative’s strategy to accelerate progress in protecting children from violence. Regional organizations and institutions are strategic allies, and their cooperation with the Special Representative has helped place violence against children at the centre of the regional policy agenda, while enhancing the accountability of States and supporting national implementation efforts.

The Special Representative has hosted with regional partners high-level consultations in the Central and South American, Caribbean, South Asian, Pacific, European and Arab regions. Six regional monitoring reports have been issued and periodic review meetings have been held to sustain and accelerate progress.

As a result, regional political commitments and implementation road maps have been adopted, and a new generation of regional action plans on violence against children is being developed in line with the 2030 Agenda. In turn, these efforts have translated into the strengthening of national legislation and public policies, the consolidation of data and research, and the promotion of campaigns to mobilize support.

To further promote this process, the Special Representative organizes an annual high-level cross-regional round table with regional organizations and institutions. This forum has become a strategic mechanism within the United Nations to engage in policy dialogue, share knowledge and good practices, promote cross-fertilization of experiences, enhance synergies, identify trends and pressing challenges, and join forces to strengthen children’s safety and protection.

Cross regional roundtable 2019

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 28 February 2019 – “In November 2019, we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. But we must not let this be simply a symbolic celebration! It must instead become a turning point in our efforts to translate the Convention into a reality for every child. This year’s global and regional milestones in the review processes of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development must be seized as an opportunity to ensure that the rights of children and their protection from violence are kept front and center,” urged SRSG Santos Pais at the opening of the 9th High-Level Cross-Regional Round Table on the Prevention and Elimination of Violence against Children. “Regional organizations are strategic partners in this endeavor and the annual Cross Regional Round Table is a unique platform to shape a common strategy to give children’s protection from violence the high priority it deserves”, she added. 

Conclusions cross-regional roundtable 2019

Cross-Regional Roundtable 2018

Placing children at the Heart of the Sustainable Development Agenda

Thimphu, Bhutan, 11 May 2018 - The 8th High-Level, Cross-Regional Round Table on the Prevention and Elimination of Violence against Children took place from 9-11 May 2018, in Thimphu, Bhutan. Key themes of this year’s forum -  which represents the first Cross-Regional Round Table held in South Asia - were children’s protection from harmful practices, including child marriage, and the role of religious leaders in this process. The Cross-Regional Round Table was co-organized by the Office of the SRSG-VAC and SAIEVAC (South Asia Initiative to End Violence against Children), and hosted by the Royal Government of the Bhutan. 

Conclusions cross-regional roundtable 2018

Cross-Regional Roundtable 2017

Manila, Philippines - SRSG Santos Pais highlights importance of cross-regional cooperation to prevent and eliminate violence against children at Seventh Cross-Regional Round Table. The Seventh Cross-Regional Round Table on the Prevention and Elimination of Violence against Children was hosted by the SRSG and the Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN), during its 50th anniversary under the chairmanship of the Philippines, from 6-8 June, in Manila. It included high-level participation by representatives from regional organizations and institutions from across the world and focussed on investing in children and accelerating progress in their protection from violence as a key dimension of implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Conclusions cross-regional roundtable 2017

Cross-Regional Roundtable 2016

Stockholm, 30-31 May 2016 - On the year of the tenth anniversary of the UN Study on Violence against Children and as the implementation, follow-up and review process of the 2030 Agenda takes shape, SRSG on Violence against Children Marta Santos Pais convened the annual forum of regional organizations and institutions in Stockholm on 30-31 May to discuss the regions’ role in supporting efforts to reach the violence-related goals and targets agreed upon in Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development. At the conclusion of this year’s annual forum, regional organizations and institutions participating in the event committed to accelerating progress in achieving the violence-related targets of Agenda 2030, especially target 16.2.

Conclusions and recommendations cross-regional roundtable 2016

Cross-Regional Roundtable 2015

Strasbourg, 18-19/06/2015 - Joining hands with the Council of Europe, SRSG Santos Pais held in Strasbourg (France), the 5th Cross-Regional Roundtable to promote accelerated progress in the prevention and elimination of violence against children around the world. Acting as a bridge-builder between regions, SRSG Santos Pais convenes each year a Cross-Regional Meeting on violence against children with representatives from regional organisations and institutions.  

Conclusions and recommendations cross-regional roundtable 2015

Cross-Regional Roundtable 2014

Kingston, 1 July 2014 - Acting as a bridge-builder between regions, the SRSG convenes each year a Cross-Regional Round Table on violence against children. This important annual forum enables regional organizations and institutions to assess progress achieved, reflect on trends and common concerns, share planned initiatives and identify opportunities for cross-regional cooperation. This year and for the first time, the Round Table also addressed a priority area of common concern: the prevention and elimination of violence in early childhood.

Conclusions and recommendations cross-regional roundtable 2014

Cross-Regional Roundtable 2012

Representatives of MERCOSUR, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and of the Government of the Dominican Republic, alongside the Latin America and the Caribbean Movement for Children (MMI LAC) gathered in New York in an event organized with the SRSG on Violence against Children on protection of children from violence. The event was sponsored by the Governments of Brazil, Uruguay, Bahamas and the Dominican Republic and included the participation of three young representatives of the Children's led organizations involved on the process of follow up to the UN Study in the Latin America region.

Conclusions and recommendations cross-regional roundtable 2012

Cross-Regional Roundtable 2011

A joint statement from regional organizations working on protection of children from violence was adopted, on Tuesday 11 October, at a roundtable discussion at the United Nations Headquarters. The roundtable discussion was organized by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children (SRSG on VAC), and is the first-ever meeting of regional organizations and institutions on violence against children. The meeting built upon the process of follow-up to the United Nations Study on Violence against Children in which regional organizations and institutions play a pivotal role.

Conclusions and recommendations cross-regional roundtable 2011