Climate change, increasing economic disparity and risks posed by misuse of ICTs amongst major challenges faced by children today – SRSG Virginia Gamba

New York, 26 June 2019 –Acting SRSG on Violence against Children, Virginia Gamba highlighted progress achieved on the field of children’s protection from violence and commended the joint effort of the six largest international non‐government organizations working with and for children that came together to share findings of the Global Child Rights Progress Report “A Second Revolution”. 

The alliance Child Rights Now! launched their first report which is the result of joint efforts of the six largest international NGOs working on children. The report presented data showing consistent decrease of child mortality rate globally, and positive indicators on closing of the gender gap in education, lower child marriage evidence and doubling birth registration figures. 

SRSG Gamba celebrated the visible strides made on these areas but highlighted major challenges children face today.

“Climate change has a severe impact on children’s lives, increasing the prevalence of violence.  

Ms. Gamba recalled the vital importance of partnering with children in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda particularly on the risks posed by the misuse of ICTs: “No one knows better what they are experiencing than children themselves. One clear example is that without children telling us what is happening in the virtual world, we can do very little – children know which platforms are being used, what kind of abuse is being inflicted.  Children’s views and recommendations are essential in overcoming the knowledge gap and in pointing us in the right direction”. 

The timely launch of the report prepared by long-time partners of the SRSG on Violence against Children Child Fund Alliance, Plan International, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages, Terre des Hommes, World Vision International counted on the participation of children from different regions who shared their views on accelerating implementation of the SDGs for all children by 2030. 

Just a few days away from the July High-Level Political Forum under the theme ‘empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality’ which will conduct an in-depth review of SDG 16, including target 16.2, SRSG Gamba called on participants to redouble the efforts to ensure that the promise of the Convention on the Rights of the Child is fulfilled, and the vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is realized.