The objective of this event is to raise the profile of violence against children in the African region and motivate Member States to implement the World Health Assembly resolution on “Ending Violence Against Children through Health Systems Strengthening and Multisectoral Approaches.” In the event will delve into:

• The African regional report on violence against children, based on the findings of the 2020 Global status report on violence against children

• An overview of INSPIRE: Seven strategies for Ending Violence Against Children and share experiences around its implementation from the region

• The unique role of the health systems toward preventing and responding to violence, particularly in the context of COVID-19 and discuss follow-up up actions needed towards implementation of the 74th World Health Assembly resolution on “Ending Violence Against Children through Health Systems Strengthening and Multisectoral Approaches.”

UNICEF, WHO, and the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children (SRSG/VAC) are launching a policy call for universal access to a minimum package of evidence-based parenting programmes designed to prevent child abuse and neglect. The event will be co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the UN and the Permanent Mission of Japan to the UN.

Adopting a minimum package of parenting interventions at the population level carries the potential to dramatically reduce neglect, abuse, and associated social, physical, and mental health outcomes.

The session will inform and give depth to the End Violence Partnership policy area and aim to build consensus around parenting programmes as a clear evidence-based intervention to accelerate change. A policy note will be launched to be adopted as a minimum and scalable package that governments should incorporate within a comprehensive, culturally and context-specific approach to parenting. It calls on governments to scale up publicly-supported parenting programmes and promote loving, nurturing, safe and supportive caregiving across the life cycle.

The inaugural Global Forum for Children and Youth (CY21 - #ChildYouthForum) convened by UNICEF will bring together children and young people alongside leaders from the United Nations, government, business, philanthropy and civil society, as well as authors, artists and influencers on 7–9 December 2021. It will be also livestreamed here, translation will be available in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic.

As part of CY21, End Violence Partnership will host a 90-minute spotlight session Together to #ENDviolence against children - at home, at school, online and within the community on 9 December.

Join this session to hear powerful testimonies and perspectives from children and survivors of violence who are dedicating their lives to ending it. Alongside international leaders from government and civil society, they will celebrate recent breakthroughs and outline what is needed to seize the moment and accelerate progress. The session will also launch a 'Children’s Manifesto' calling for urgent action ahead of the Together to #ENDviolence Leaders’ event in 2022. 

The inspiring line-up of speakers include:

Children and End Violence Champions

• Children from Kenya, Uganda, Yemen, Brazil and India
• Liza Soberano, Actress & Save the Children Ambassador 
• Brisa De Angulo, End Violence Champion, Bolivia
• Dr. Tush Wickramanayaka, End Violence Champion, Sri Lanka
• Aysha Hamman, End Violence Champion Nigeria

Government Ministers

• Märta Stenevi, Minister for Gender Equality and Housing, Government of Sweden
• Hon. Betty Amongi Akena, Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Government of Uganda
• Sauth Vong, Minister for Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, Royal Government of Cambodia
• Julie Morgan MS, Deputy Minister for Social Services, Welsh Government
• Rachel Maclean MP, Minister for Safeguarding, Government of the United Kingdom

Civil Society and Organizations

• Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Board Co-Chair End Violence Partnership
• Joy Phumaphi, Board Co-Chair, End Violence Partnership
• Jim Fruchterman, Founder and CEO, Tech Matters
• Joan Nyanyuki, Executive Director African Child Policy Forum
• Inger Ashing, CEO, Save the Children International
• Dr. Daniela Ligiero, Executive Director and CEO Together for Girls
• Dr. Howard Taylor, Executive Director, End Violence Partnership

Based on the INSPIRE technical package – an evidence-based approach to revitalizing and expanding current multisectoral efforts to prevent and respond to violence against children – the INSPIRE Guide to Adaptation and Scale-Up was created as a resource for the adaptation and scale-up of a county's unique action plan to address violence against children.

This launch event will introduce partners to the guide content, demonstrate how resources and tools can be used, and highlight country experiences in adaptation and scale-up.