An expert meeting on gender-based violence in schools was organized jointly by UNESCO, the French National Commission for UNESCO, and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The Independent Expert was the keynote speaker and presented the main findings of the study, highlighting aspects related to school and gender-based violence. Experts discussed challenges for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the Education for All Goals. The Independent Expert also met with the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, and discussed the next steps in the follow-up to the release of his report. To read the presentation of the Independent Expert click here. To know more, click here.

The World Report on Violence against Children was launched in Geneva on the occasion of Universal Children’s Day and the 15th anniversary of the Committee on the Rights of the Child. Prior to the presentation of the World Report, a panel discussion took place which focused on the follow-up to the Study. The Independent Expert presented his book to various authorities including the Chairman of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba, and the Acting Director-General of the World Health Organization, Anders Nordström and the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection of UNHCR, Erika Feller. To read more about the launch event, click here.

The Independent Expert participated in the release of his report for the Latin American and Caribbean region which took place on 16 November in Panama. The launch was organized by the UNICEF regional office and the civil society organizations involved in the steering committee of the Regional Consultation for Latin America. The Vice-President of Panama and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Lewis Navarro, and the president of the Supreme Court of Panama, Cecilia Gomez, attended the launch. Other participants included UNICEF Regional Director, Nils Kastberg, who spoke on behalf of the UN agencies who participated in the Study, World Vision Deputy Regional Director, Corina Villacorta, who represented the regional NGO Secretariat for the Study and young people who contributed to the report. Representatives of the Organization of American States and CARICON were also present at the event. To read the statement of the independent expert click here. To read more about the event click here.

In addition to the regional launch of the report, the Expert discussed the expectations for the follow-up to the Study with non-governmental organizations. He also met with representatives of the local media. Prof. Pinheiro also made presentations at the Ministry of Social Welfare and at a seminar which was organized during the World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse. The expert also met with the UN resident coordinator, José Eguren, and other members of the UN country team.

The Independent Expert presented his report at the opening of the III National Summit of Governors for Childhood and Adolescence in Colombia. The summit was supported by the UNICEF office in Colombia, the Colombian Institute for Family Welfare and the Colombian Attorney General’s Office. The summit gathered 28 governors from all over the country, members of the judiciary and ministers to discuss their strategies relating to childhood and adolescence. The Expert also met the President of the Colombian Senate, Dilian Francisca Toro, and discussed the recently approved Colombian code for the rights of children and adolescents and the possibilities of a law concerning violence against women. Children from the Department of ‘Valle del Cauca’ talked with the Independent Expert in the Municipal Library of Cali and described their experiences in schools and communities. Prof. Pinheiro was also informed by experts from the ‘Universidad del Valle’ about local initiatives relating to the prevention of violence against children.