Statement at the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council – Annual iscussion on rights of the child

Human Rights Council 58th session
Annual Discussion on the Rights of the Child
(HRC res. 7/29 and 55/29)
13 March 2025

 

Statement delivered by Ms. Emma Nowotny, Child Rights Program Officer, Arigatou International – Geneva

Arigatou International welcomes the discussions on child rights and early childhood development, and the important views and recommendations that children shared.

According to WHO, six in ten children under five experience physical or psychological violence from caregivers. This perpetuates cycles of abuse, but evidence shows that supporting parents, promoting positive parenting, challenging harmful norms, and strengthening legal protections can foster healthy child development.

In line with General Comment No. 7 (2005), we call for a holistic approach to child development interventions to ensure access to health, nutrition, early education, protection from violence and neglect, and the meaningful participation of children. Strengthening these foundations is critical to lifelong well-being, inclusion, and the prevention of violence against children.

We call on governments, decision-makers, and civil society to:

1. Address the social, emotional, and spiritual needs of children in the early years, as part of their holistic development, recognizing the role that nurturing children’s spiritual wellbeing plays in fostering their resilience, empathy, positive relationships, and ethical development.
2. Equip parents, caregivers, and educators to nurture children’s holistic development, providing them with knowledge about the impact of violence in early childhood development and with tools and skills on positive parenting; as well as mental health and psychosocial support, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
3. Engage faith communities as allies in challenging social and cultural norms that condone violence in child upbringing by creating spaces for reflection on religious practices that affirm human dignity and addressing violence through theological reflections.

Today’s education gaps, growing mental health crises, and rising narratives of exclusion and hate threaten children’s dignity, safety, and sense of belonging. These realities underscore the urgent need to nurture children’s holistic well-being as a pillar of resilience and social cohesion.

To conclude, we urge all States and organizations to adopt multi-sectoral approaches, fostering collaboration beyond silos to create effective mechanisms for child protection and empowerment.