World Day for Prevention
of Child Abuse - 19 November ©

2004 Poster

 
To see and print poster in A4 format , click here (230 Ko)
 

 
see and print Open Letter (.pdf - 700 Ko)

Open Letter to coalition members and partners

(non-governmental and governmental)

Dear members and partners,

The World Day is a process for the emergence of a culture of prevention and for the promotion of responsibility, dignity and respect for the rights of the child. It is our mission to Expand the process by reaching out to as many governmental and non-governmental organisations and institutions, educators, experts and professionals as possible to rally a collective stand for zero tolerance for child abuse and violence. You are key in creating this emerging culture with annual activities around the world.

We wish to acknowledge all those among you who marked the Day last year (500 organisations in more than 90 countries) and thank you for sending us hundreds of reports of workshops, demonstrations, theatre plays, programs in schools, churches and on television and Internet, video clips, press releases and action alerts, all focusing on either physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse. You kept the issue on the front burner and identified your organization and local partners as powerful agents for change. A global impact report is featured on Internet. WWSF also thanks the many experts who presented their programs at the Geneva Round Table: “Progress in preventing child abuse - annual review II (www.woman.ch/children/1-coalitionimpact.asp).

	Call to Action Invite your Mayor to proclaim 19 November Day for Prevention of Child Abuse for his/her town. We encourage you to mark the Day with continued pertinent activities and invite your Mayor to proclaim the Day, following the example of the Mayor of Los Angeles (USA) who, invited by the International Child Abuse Network (YES, ICAN –USA), issued a proclamation for the residents of L.A. A clear and repeated message from your authorities about their stand for the right to dignity will reinforce your local presence and programs. WWSF will post all the Mayors’ proclamations on Internet.

	WWSF Prize Betty Makoni, awarding innovative prevention initiatives : As announced last year, WWSF will select from the 2003 coalition reports innovative activities for the awards. Prize winners will be announced early November and an award ceremony will be organized on 19 November in Geneva at the Palais Wilson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Betty Makoni, a committed child rights advocate in Zimbabwe and victim of abuse herself, created the Girl Child Network that accompanies 20’000 abused girls country-wide. Naming the Prize after her, honors her exceptional leadership in abuse prevention.

Reminder of objectives

• Sensitize all citizens as well as national and international actors on the need for more effective prevention measures.
• Develop national coalitions and increase exchange of existing programs and participation in the formulation of new programs.
• Reinforce collaboration with your Government, local political and religious leaders, your Mayor and social institutions.
• Inform the media about the Day and invite them to report on your activities and events.
• Participate in creating ‘a World fit for Children’ and remind your Head of State of the promises made at the UN General Assembly Special Session on Children via the WWSF “Walk your Talk” postcard campaign.

Working Principles

• Identify organizations and groups that will mark the Day in collaboration with you.

• Invite children and young people to participate in your activities and become real actors of the Day.

• Send a brief report about your local and/or national activities and events organized on 19 November.

• Share information about violations of concern to their mandates with the
  – UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (http://www.unhchr.ch/children/rapporteur.htm)
  – Independent Expert on the UN Study on Violence against Children (http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/crc/study.htm)
  “Observance of the World Day for the prevention of child abuse is critical to ensuring that we address the problem of child abuse, but it also highlights that violence against children is a global issue.”
  Paulo Sergio Pinheiro,
  Independent Expert on the UN Study on Violence against Children .

Dear coalition members and partners,

We honor our relationship and collaboration and wish you a most successful World Day event. We look forward to receiving your activity report 2004 for which we thank you in advance.

Laure Domeniconi,
Global co-ordinator World Day for prevention of child abuse – 19 November

Definition

The term child abuse includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse as well as exploitation of a child.

Use of logo

Reproduction of the 19 November logo for information sharing is permitted provided that the source of the global convener is mentioned (without any modification). Reproduction of the 19 November logo for fundraising purposes requires written permission from WWSF. WWSF declines all responsibility for legal, financial, administrative or moral liabilities which may result from events organized by coalition members on the World Day.

Sponsors of the World Day 2004

WWSF thanks the Liechtenstein Development Service LDS, Département Fédéral de l’Intérieur - Suisse, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR and Vivre Autrement for their financial support towards the world campaign.

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