Geneva, 13 March 2025 – A high-level side event at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council brought together around 140 participants, both online and in person, including representatives from 24 Permanent Missions to the UN in Geneva. Organized by the Child Rights Connect Working Group on Children and Violence, in collaboration with Arigatou International, Lumos, Plan International, Terre des Hommes, the United Nations Office on Violence against Children, the World Health Organization (WHO), and World Vision International, the event reinforced the urgent need for sustained accountability and action to end violence against children. The event was co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Kenya, Colombia, and Canada to the United Nations in Geneva.
The discussion was built on the momentum generated by the Global Ministerial Conference in Bogotá (2024), where over 120 governments pledged to end violence against children. Panelists stressed the need to translate these commitments into real, measurable change.
Ms. Maria Lucia Uribe, Executive Director of Arigatou International – Geneva, moderated the panel and set the tone for the discussion, referencing a powerful message delivered by children at the Annual Day on the Rights of the Child: “We have heard from you, but sometimes what you promise is change, and the promises don’t get fulfilled.” She emphasized the need for collaboration between states, organizations, and civil society to hold governments accountable.
International human rights mechanisms are instrumental in ensuring accountability, but panelists stressed that true progress requires cooperation across sectors. H.E. Ambassador Álvaro Ayala, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Colombia, highlighted this by recalling his country’s legislative progress, stating: “Colombia has taken a decisive step toward breaking the harmful cycle of violence. In 2021, law 2089 was enacted explicitly to prohibit the use of corporal punishment, the elimination of degrading treatment, and any form of violence as a method of correction or against children or adolescents.”
A powerful moment in the event was the participation of six children from Colombia, Ecuador, Kenya, and Nepal, actively involved in Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC) initiatives. They shared their perspectives through video messages, highlighting the urgent need for governments and institutions to uphold their commitments. Their voices added depth to the discussion, reinforcing that children must not only be heard but also meaningfully involved in decision-making processes. Jaskiran from Kenya spoke about the importance of tackling cyberbullying and digital safety, calling for “immediate responses to cyberbullying cases so that delays don’t perpetuate violence.” Similarly, Chetan and Sahadip from Nepal called for meaningful youth participation: “Governments should organize meetings where children and young people can share their ideas and help plan actions to meet international commitments. Our voices matter in saving the future.”
Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, stressed: “We need to translate [commitments] into action quickly (…) and we need to make sure that we have children on board.” Echoing this, H.E. Ambassador James Ndirangu Waweru, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya, pointed out the cultural shift needed to protect children: “Corporal punishment was once normal. Today, if you attempt it in Kenya, you will find yourself as a guest of the state—not in the State House, but in prison, because punishment has been prohibited.”
Concrete steps toward accountability were outlined. Professor Benyam Dawit Mesmur, Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, highlighted the need for focus on both emerging issues like cyberbullying and longstanding threats such as corporal punishment. Meanwhile, Ms. Sabine Rakotomalala, Senior Technical Officer at WHO, announced a digital dashboard to track country commitments, a one-stop platform to monitor pledges, policies, and progress—ensuring transparency and accountability at every step.
The event ended with a call to turn words into action. Ms. Anne-Marie Vuignier, UN Representative for Geneva at World Vision International, stressed: “Pledges without action are just words.” The discussion underscored that ending violence against children is not just a long-term goal—it is an immediate necessity. Moving forward, participants called for stronger political will, financial investment, and sustained collaboration to protect every child, everywhere. Final statements were made by representatives from Canada and Mexico, reaffirming their countries’ commitments and progress to ending violence against children, including cross-sector efforts on positive parenting and violence-free schools.
