SRSG dialogue with ASEAN Commission on the Rights of Women and Children calls for implementation of regional priority actions for the elimination of violence against children 2016-2020

Jakarta, Indonesia 18 February 2016 - The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Marta Santos Pais has completed a week long mission to Jakarta where she held a series of policy dialogues with the Deputy-Secretary General of ASEAN for the Socio-Cultural Community, the ASEAN Commission on the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), and the Government of Indonesia.

In her discussion with Mr Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee, Deputy-Secretary General of ASEAN for the Socio-Cultural Community, Santos Pais welcomed the adoption by the 27th ASEAN Summit in November 2015 of the Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence against Children 2016-2020 (RPA/EVAC). The SRSG and DSG agreed to collaborate on strategic areas of global concern, including on bullying and cyberbullying, consolidation of juvenile justice systems and protection of children deprived of liberty, as well as activities commemorating the 10th anniversary of the UN Study on Violence against Children.

In her dialogue with the ACWC Representatives, Santos Pais acknowledged their collective and steadfast commitment to ending violence against children and their success in developing the new RPA/EVAC. “The regional plan on ending violence against children is evidence of the strong commitment of member states to ensure an ASEAN where no child lives in fear”, she stressed.

Santos Pais commended the comprehensive scope of the RPA/EVAC which recognizes the many ways violence against children is manifested and proposes concrete action for its prevention and elimination within a realistic timeframe. The RPA/EVAC highlights the crucial role of data and research to inform evidence-based actions at the national level, and encourages sharing and mutual learning between ASEAN member states to consolidate progress. The monitoring and evaluation framework of the RPA/EVA will help ensure accountability for implementation and assessment of the impact of measures adopted.

“The implementation of the regional plan is a crucial contribution to Agenda 2030, and towards reaching SDG target 16.2 with its call for an end to all forms of violence against children”, SRSG Santos Pais highlighted.

Representatives of the ACWC reiterated their commitment to national implementation of the RPA/EVAC and address its priority concerns, which include the deinstitutionalization of children, the protection of children from online abuse, the prevention of deprivation of liberty, and promotion of alternatives to judicial proceedings for children in contact with the law, as well as awareness-raising campaigns among policy makers and the general public.  

The ACWC formally adopted a statement recalling that 2016 marks the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Study on Violence against Children to which ASEAN member states have contributed, and reaffirming the ACWC commitment to eliminating violence against children as one of the priority areas of their Work Plan 2012-2016. It also expressed the commitment of the ACWC to pursue collaboration as reflected in the SRSG-ACWC Joint Statement issued on 17 January 2012 in Manila, and to support the SRSG’s global efforts to galvanize political will and mobilize wide social support and actions for the protection of children from violence, leaving no child behind.