Vision of the UN Study:

Raised understanding and awareness amongst all stakeholders - in a child rights and holistic context - of the causes, extent and consequences of violence against children:
o based on child-centred, participatory, evidence-based, intelligence-led research,
o capitalising on media profile at every level (local, national, regional and international) and
o resulting in:
? an end to silence,
? a marked change in attitudes and
? the will, tools and capacity to act.

Such ‘tools’ to include: widespread timebound, implementable national plans of action; frameworks for measuring / monitoring the extent and impact of violence at local and national levels; methodologies to explore the psycho-social and economic costs of violence; shared learning of concrete examples of good practice that children approve of for prevention, protection and rehabilitation; guidelines for CSOs to engage in advocacy and media work; models for effective means of redress for children at domestic and international levels.

Sustainable action / widespread change is only possible through reaching individuals: individuals hit; individuals help; individuals develop their own coping strategies; individuals are inspired with the passion to change their own environment as well as that of their peers, their communities and their societies; individuals persuade other individuals to join with them for good or bad - to commit collective violence, to develop policy, to lobby, to coordinate support and to perpetuate structures of inequality or to end them.

This study needs to reach, persuade and empower individuals: parents, bullies, police, market stall owners, teachers, politicians, Directors of Social Welfare Departments, Presidents, gang members, activists, academics, lawyers, journalists, street girls and boys and so on. This will happen through targeting these individuals and the groups in which they take part at an emotional and rational level, through qualitative and quantitative research and advocacy. The most powerful resources to reach, persuade and empower individuals to end violence against children through an emotional and rational response are children themselves. By basing this Study on children’s participation, it has the potential to be truly visionary, innovative and influential. All of us involved in the Study need to rise to the challenge.

From a child’s perspective:

(Unfortunately, (and somewhat ironically, given the above statement) given the timeframe, we have not yet had time to consult properly with children directly. However, the following are the results of an exercise by adults at a consultative CSC workshop on the UN Study, trying to imagine the responses to this question from particular children they know. These ‘visions’ were very different to those from an adult perspective.):

An end to violence against children; create space for children to tell their stories, be involved in discussions and make recommendations in their own voices; listen, acknowledge and respond to their concerns; children are treated with respect, dignity, confidentiality, ensuring their security; they are offered understanding, support, protection, comfort, reassurance, information, justice; the opportunity to report to the police without fear; I want justice: if I have to sell myself I want all my rewards – not the beatings men give to me instead of money; we want the chance to help ourselves and others; laws to protect us; for consultation to be regular, not just one-off for the study; practical support to improve our situation; a permanent ‘focal point’ person on violence in my country; feedback on the results of the study; I want to know what my government is being asked to do in response to the study (or indeed how it might be collaborating as the study develops).