NGO’s concerned about the process of establish a Special Representative to the Secretary-General on Violence against Children.

Child Rights Information Network calls for support in its latest campaign regarding establishment of a Special Representative to the Secretary-General on Violence against Children.

As a result of strong and consistent pressure from over 1,000 organizations, on 18 December 2007 United Nations General Assembly adopted the Resolution A/62/141, calling for the appointment of the SRSG. Although this was a major victory, as the process unfolds a number of organizations become concerned at various aspects.

The NGO Advisory Council for follow up to the UN Study on Violence Against Children and other NGOs have made direct representation to the Secretary-General's office on the following matters:
• Terms of Reference for the mandate are being re-written; which is unnecessary as the Resolution provides adequate and detailed terms of references to be used in the appointment.
• The level of the post of SRSG may be at a lower level than the SRSG on Children and Armed Conflict, i.e. Assistant Secretary-General, rather than Under Secretary-General, creating not only issues of parity between the two posts, but also creating the impression that the overall issue of violence against children is less important.
• The Location: In order to be able to cooperate closely with all the relevant key UN agencies, it would make more sense for the SRSG to be based in Geneva where all other relevant UN partners are based, as well as the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The SRSG should have his/her own premises rather than be based with a single agency.

More information on the action and a sample letter to Secretary General at http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=17190

More information on the UN Study on Violence Against Children at http://www.violencestudy.org/r25