Norway gives NOK 4 million to UN envoy on violence against children

The Norwegian Government has decided to allocate NOK 4 million over a three-year period to support the work of the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children. Norway has been actively involved in moving violence against children higher up on the agenda in the UN. This is why the Government considers it important to make sure that the Special Representative is able to start her work.

Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, all children have the right to a life free of violence. The UN Study on Violence against Children, which was presented at the General Assembly in October 2006, revealed widespread violence against children at home, at school, in the community, in care and other institutions, and in work settings. The General Assembly therefore asked the Secretary-General to appoint a Special Representative on violence against children.

The Portugese human rights expert Marta Santos Pais has been appointed as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Representative on violence against children. She has been working in the human rights field for 25 years, most recently as Executive Director of UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre. She will report directly to the Secretary-General. Her office will receive administrative support from UNICEF and will be funded by voluntary contributions.

The Special Representative is to encourage member states, civil society and children and young people throughout the world to become involved in efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against children. She will seek to combat violence in the home, in schools, in care institutions and in the workplace. The protection of children and young people who have fallen foul of the law is also part of her mandate.

Ms Marta Santos Pais has been appointed for a initial period of three years.   

More information on Children Rights Information Network's web pages