The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Calls to Formulate an Effective Approach to Put an End to Violence against Children.
12-16-2021
Amman, December, 16 (Petra) - Wafaa Zenatia - The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Violence against Children, Dr. Najat Maalla Majeed, stated that the economic and social impact of the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic will last, so it is important to benefit from the lessons learned in building and developing an effective approach that adopts Implement an integrated system of social protection and childcare services, avoiding the isolated and unsustainable approaches.
On Thursday, Dr. Majeed, during the press conference at the conclusion of her visit to Jordan, stressed that spending by the state in providing integrated and interrelated services for protection and social care for children and vulnerable social groups is an investment in human capital, societies, and a sustainable economy.
At the press conference held by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in cooperation with the National Council for Family Affairs, and with the participation of the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator of the United Nations in Jordan, Anders Pedersen, Majeed reiterated its call for a standard response by all actors in society to end the violence against children.
While Dr. Majeed met during her visit to Jordan with a group of children, youth, and women who have been empowered in several communities to exercise their rights and participate in a violence-free environment for all children, she stressed that investing in the protection, development, and well-being of children cannot wait or delay.
And she indicates that investing in children is crucial in building an integrated, peaceful, and just society, which has the ability to cope, resist and protect all children from violence.
Also while Majeed met during her visit with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, international agencies, and donors, she indicated that the Jordanian government will present in 2022 the second Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the sustainable development goals, during the high-level political forum that organized by the United Nations, as well as the Voluntary Local Review (VLR) for Amman, which is the first-ever in the Arab region, stating that these voluntary reviews are an important part of the accountability structure for the sustainable development goals.
She added “Reporting on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides an excellent opportunity to assess progress towards ending violence against children, helps to avoid isolated and unsustainable approaches, implements an integrated system of social protection services and childcare which consider gender, disabilities, and parents support, giving access to safe learning and health care including mental health, while maintaining equity and justice, given that this integrated approach reflects the linkage between children rights and sustainable developments goals.
Resident Coordinator Anders Pedersen began the press conference with an opening statement, saying: “the protection of children and young people from violence is crucial, and all forms of violence against children can be prevented, adding, that the government has committed to preparing the Voluntary National Review (VNR) to be presented in the next July 2022, which is an important opportunity to identify the ways of accelerating the implementation of the sustainable development plan and children’s rights.”
Pedersen also indicated that “We must also look beyond the COVID-19 pandemic and be prepared for crises and other disruptions caused by conflict, climate change, and other disease outbreaks, taking into account that only 8 years left to fulfill the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development regarding end Violence against children, so we need a qualitative shift."
In turn, Dr. Muhammad Miqdadi, the Secretary-General of the National Council for Family Affairs, stressed the need to approve the children’s Act, indicating that it would enable Jordan, if approved, in response to the recurring observations of the International Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and addresses the legislative gaps which occurred in the mechanisms of granting rights to children.
Dr. Miqdadi also emphasized the role and importance of the media in mobilizing support and advocacy for amending legislation and improving the system of social protection services to end violence against children and vulnerable groups, emphasizing at the same time the importance of multi-sectoral prevention programs to end violence against children, and commitment to sustainable development goals.
In turn, the Representative of UNICEF in Jordan Tanya Chapuisat stated: "The mission of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children has reinforced the importance of ending the spread of violence against children and making it a priority for the government and society as a whole."
Chapuisat added that investing in the protection of children and youth is an investment in the future; It will allow the future generations to thrive as well as enable children to grow healthy with empowered citizenship.
It is indicated that the visit of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Violence against Children to Jordan extended from 10-16 of this month and comes as part of a regional tour, and she is expected to visit Lebanon after Jordan.
