Viva’s Chief Executive Mark Stavers attended the launch of the ‘Global Partnership and Fund to End Violence Against Children’ at the United Nations yesterday (Tuesday 12 July).

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake and actress Lucy Liu were among the speakers at the event in New York.

“Violence against children is a problem shared by every society – so the solution must also be shared,” said Mr Lake, with Ms Liu concluding the launch by saying, “We don’t want children to be survivors, we want children to be children.”

One in every two children is harmed by violence, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the goals of Agenda 2030 call for a world where every child grows up free from violence and exploitation.

This Partnership – supported by governments, civil society organisations, foundations, private sector and UN agencies – aims to accelerate real action for children, build on the opportunity presented by the Sustainable Development Goals, and strengthen global collaboration.

Viva’s presence at the invitation-only event is recognition of our work to keep children safe from violence and domestic abuse in Central America, where our partner networks have started a joint, region-wide programme to change attitudes and influence governments.

Mark (right) says, “It was a privilege to have the opportunity to join world leaders who are tackling violence against children head-on, to be inspired by what’s being done and challenged by the journey ahead.

“Keeping children safe has been at the heart of Viva’s work for 20 years, and that continues today. Alongside our partner networks in Central America, our goal is to see whole cities where children are safe from violence and domestic abuse.

“I feel it is significant that we were invited to the UN for the launch of this important global initiative. I hope that it might be a springboard for Viva’s future involvement in collaborative work on this issue.”

The launch was co-hosted by the governments of Mexico, Sweden, Tanzania and Indonesia, who presented their national roadmaps for ending violence against children.

It took place during the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York, which followed up and reviewed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals adopted at the UN Summit in September last year.

Click here to read more about the aims of the Partnership.