Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children

The UN Secretary General’s Study on Violence against Children (A/61/299), led by Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, addressed violence against children in five settings: the family, schools, alternative care institutions and detention facilities, places where children work and communities. The Study called for urgent action to prevent and respond to all forms of violence and presented a set of strategic recommendations. To promote the dissemination of the Study and ensure effective follow up to its recommendations, the Study called for the appointment of a Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children (SRSG).

The SRSG reports directly to the UN Secretary-General, chairs the United Nations Inter-Agency Working Group on Violence against Children and collaborates closely with a wide range of partners, within and beyond the UN system. The mandate was established for a period of three years.