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31 May 2021 | Geneva: The 74th World Health Assembly adopted today a new resolution on “Ending violence against children through health systems strengthening and multisectoral approaches”, which aims to strengthen health sector capacity to prevent and respond to violence against children. During the discussion more than 60 Member States spoke in support of the resolution, some on behalf of their respective regions, with many expressing their deep concern about the detrimental impact of violence on the world’s children, laid bare during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Every year, about 1 billion children are affected by physical, sexual or psychological violence, suffering injuries, disabilities and death, as well as the negative impacts of witnessing violence between parents or caregivers. In addition to the immediate and lifelong harmful consequences, violence against children undermines investments in health and education and erodes the productive capacity of future generations. Stay-at-home measures, a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, have in many settings contributed to higher incidences of violence within families.
“There is never any excuse for violence against children," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). “We have evidence-based tools to prevent it, which we urge all countries to implement. Protecting the health and well-being of children is central to protecting our collective health and well-being, now and for the future.”
The resolution – tabled by the United States of America and many co-sponsors – emphasizes that the health sector has a major role to play in documenting the extent of the problem of violence against children; delivering and monitoring prevention approaches and providing services to mitigate the consequences of exposure to violence. It lists a range of actions to be taken by governments and the WHO Secretariat, in collaboration with other stakeholders, to ensure the health and well-being of children.
The new resolution invites governments to establish an inter-ministerial coordination process at the highest level of government; create or designate a unit or focal point within ministries of health; strengthen legislative policy and response frameworks; allocate the necessary budget; enhance international collaboration; implement the technical packages INSPIRE: Seven strategies for ending violence against children and RESPECT women: a framework for preventing violence against women; develop or improve epidemiological surveillance systems; and include children in advocacy, policy development and action, among other actions.
It invites the WHO Secretariat to develop and launch the second and third global status reports on violence against children in 2025 and 2030; provide technical knowledge and support to collect data and build capacities, including of WHO regional and country offices; facilitate the implementation of parenting programmes; facilitate knowledge exchange among all stakeholders; strengthen collaboration through a multisectoral approach; and report on the implementation of this resolution to the 76th World Health Assembly in 2023.
“This new World Health Assembly resolution and its call to action is timely," says Dr Etienne Krug, Director of the Department of Social Determinants of Health, WHO. “More than ever we need to act to end violence against children, which leads to such terrible pain and suffering in young lives. The role of the health sector is invaluable in preventing or detecting violence and supporting those affected. WHO stands ready to assist ministries of health and their partners to build capacities to enable them to play this role more effectively and end this scourge.”
The first-ever Global status report on preventing violence against children 2020 measured countries’ progress on preventing and responding to violence against children. The report highlighted substantial achievements at global, regional and country levels, while also emphasizing an urgent need to accelerate violence prevention efforts if the SDG target to end violence against children is to be achieved.
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