This is a text-only version of an article first published on Monday, 6 August 2018. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
Mark Stavers, Chief Executive of the Oxford based Christian children's charity Viva, is attending the launch of the 'Global Partnership and Fund to End Violence Against Children' at the United Nations in New York next Tuesday (12 July).
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 says, "It is 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 have been 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 will be co-hosted by the governments of Mexico, Sweden, Tanzania and Indonesia, who will present their national road maps for ending violence against children. It will take place during the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York, which will follow up and review the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals that were adopted at the UN Summit in September last year.