Following a request made by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, in 2001, the General Assembly, in its resolution 56/138 decided to request the Secretary-General to conduct ‘an in-depth study on the question of violence against children’. In its resolution 2002/92 on the rights of the child, the Commission on Human Rights suggested that the Secretary-General “appoint an independent expert to direct the study, in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization”. The same year, the General Assembly, in resolution 57/190 reaffirmed its request and encouraged the Secretary-General to appoint an independent expert to direct the study. Periodically, since his appointment, the Independent Expert appointed to lead the study, Prof. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, reports on the study developments to the General Assembly.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2006

The United Nations Secretary-General’s Study on Violence against Children was presented by the Independent Expert, Prof. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, to the Third Committee of the General Assembly on 11 October 2006. The report contains the main findings and recommendations developed through the Study process during the last two years of activities. Around the presentation of the Study report to the General Assembly a number of activities and events were organized. At a reception hosted by the Governments of Norway and Egypt, invited guests received a preview copy of the ‘World Report on Violence against Children’. The following day, on 12 October, a Roundtable was held, an informal discussion between children and young people and a number of senior representatives of UN agencies, NGO’s, state authorities and the private sector. Following this event, the children’s version of the report of the Independent Expert to the General Assembly and child-friendly materials were launched. Secretary-General Kofi Annan met with the children and young people on this occasion and spent some time answering their questions. Key partners in the Study development process, including representatives from Governments, international organizations, civil society entities and children participated in all activities and events.
Click on the links below to read more about each of these events.

Presentation of the Study to the Third Committee of the General Assembly
Reception and preview of the World Report on Violence against Children
Roundtable discussion on Violence against Children
Launch of child-friendly materials
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GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2005

The Independent Expert presented his progress report to the General Assembly at the Third Committee on 14 October, 2005. The report focused on the study developments during the year of 2005, including the participation of Governments, international and civil society entities and children. In addition to the presentation of the report, two side events promoted during the General Assembly in 2005 were related to the study: “Violence Against Women and Violence Against Children”, promoted by the Study Secretariat and the Division for the Advancement of Women; and “Violence in Schools: Ending Corporal Punishment, organised in partnership with UNICEF, UNESCO and Save The Children. To read the Report click here. To see Prof . Pinheiro’s Statement click here. To read more about the side events promoted during the occasion click here.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2004

The Independent Expert, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, made a statement at the Third Committee during the General Assembly 2004. Professor Pinheiro presented the core aspects of the study strategy through the concept paper. The plans to develop nine regional consultations during the spring of 2005 were presented to Member States. The Expert also met with representatives from missions supporting the study development. To read Pinheiro’s Statement click here.