World Day for Prevention
of Child Abuse - 19 November ©

Geneva report 2001

Press Release on the occasion of World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse

The Women's World Summit Foundation WWSF launched the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse on 19 November 2000 (a date to create a synergy with the anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child) in response to an unacceptable announcement in a respected Swiss daily paper of a pedophile network having created an international day for pedophilia. Sexual abuse and exploitation of children and youth being a universal and complex problem which defies both simplistic analysis and easy answers, the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse aims above all to create a culture of prevention around the world.

At its launching message and inauguration in 2000, WWSF disseminated Dr. Sherryll Kraizer's educational program "Protecting Children from Abuse". This public briefing has circulated the world and has been translated into many national and local languages and is now used in many schools. It seems to fill a need for parents to give their children basic skills to fight off sexual aggressors. However, such programs alone are not an absolute guarantee against child abuse and increased prevention information and education is needed to reinforce the promotion of existing programs, improve circulation of information, and create new strategies for action.

Nevertheless, efforts to speed up prevention do come up against difficulties, e.g. the world scale of the problem, the vulnerability of children, the lack of political will to address this issue on a regular basis, the power of vested interests, including financial interest, etc.

The issue of child abuse is too complex to be addressed from a single perspective. No one group has the expertise to address all the issues of children who have been abused. Inter-sectoral and integrated approaches as well as joint actions and networks that maintain a broad ranging perspective are necessary.

In the face of such challenges and to increase cooperation, experience sharing and resource dissemination, WWSF launched in 2001 an international NGO coalition for the dignity of children. The NGO coalition, keystone of the World Day campaign, brought together149 NGOs from 60 countries that committed to mark the Day with significant local or national activities and events.

Encouraged by civil society's response in recognition of the necessity for such a World Day, and stressing that more about abuse prevention and protection needs to be done, WWSF is reinforced in its commitment to continue with the annual campaign and disseminate innovative approaches and information on Internet to the benefit of coalition members and the NGO child rights community in general.

In Geneva, several events marked the commemoration of the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse

 A public demonstration in front of the United Nations
 The official remittance of the "Petition Fusterie" to UNICEF demanding urgent intervention by the UN, governments and the media in order to ensure urgent implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Petition was launched in the year 2000 and generated 17,000 signatures from around the world.
 A press conference, followed by a public debate. Elly Pradervand succeeded in bringing together a large number of personalities from diverse backgrounds that agreed to address the media on the World Day and underlined the importance of prevention measures and efficient protection skills against child abuse. Interventions also included the urgent need to adequately finance prevention programs as a society can be evaluated by the way it treats its children
 A commemoration at the Temple de la Fusterie in the evening with speakers and music to close the Day.

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Coalition Impact 2001

Activities and events organized by international NGO coalition members

Summary

I - The Women’s World Summit Foundation
Presentation Message Program to mark the World Day Pictures and newspapers clippings
II - List of international coalition members	(757Kb) - (118 Kb)
III - Activities and events organized by coalition members
Africa	(783Kb) - (161 Kb)
Asia and Pacific	(778Kb) - (142 Kb)
The Americas	(764Kb) - (158 Kb)
Europe	(785Kb) - (164 Kb)

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Photo Gallery

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United Nations (Geneva) - 19 November

 
Togo, Nigeria and D.R.Congo - 19 November

 
Kenya and Zambia - 19 November

 
India and Peru - 19 November

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