Investing in child protection and wellbeing: A key accelerator of the SDGs

With less than six years remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda, the world remains off track on most SDG targets, including the commitment to end all forms of violence against children. Despite ongoing efforts, violence against children remains widespread and is exacerbated by multifaceted and overlapping crises. To end violence against children, urgent, coordinated action from all sectors is needed to address these challenges and protect the rights of every child.

2024 was a pivotal year in the global fight to end violence against children. This was highlighted by global efforts to mobilize all stakeholders, re-energize commitments, strengthen multilateralism, and foster sustainable, context-specific partnerships. Key milestones included the first-ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence against Children, held in Bogotá, Colombia, in November, which built on vibrant national, regional, and global multi-stakeholder preparatory processes. The launch of the revitalized Pathfinding Global Alliance to End Violence against Children at the Ministerial Conference is expected to generate more robust actions and results to ensure children’s protection.

In addition to these global efforts, 2024 marked 15 years of dedicated advocacy for the protection and well-being of children under the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children (SRSG-VAC). This anniversary underscores the importance of continued collaboration as we work towards a world where every child is safe and protected.

This strong and growing momentum for children’s protection needs to continue. It needs to build on the achievements made so far, assess common barriers, and accelerate actions to fulfil the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

I hope that this brief provides a tool for Member States that are preparing for the next cycle of their Voluntary National Reviews (VNR). This process builds on the existing engagement of States in, for example, the reporting processes on their implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Universal Periodic Review, and national and regional follow-up to the Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence against Children. I remain committed to acting as a bridge and a catalyst to support these efforts.