On behalf of the Order of Malta, Ambassador Michel Veuthey and Dr. Emanuele G. A. Piluso attended the “Meeting with Permanent Missions on Ending Violence Against Children” organized by Arigatou International, an NGO that draws on universal principles of common good to fulfill its “All for Children” mission.
Violence impacts one billion children every year and costs societies up to 7 trillion USD a year. Violence against children (VAC) negatively impacts the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and all other investments in children such as their health, education protection or development. However, 473 Human Rights Council Resolutions were approved between 2015 and 2020:
- 4% focused exclusively on VAC issues
- 11% included some recommendations
- 12% mentioned some VAC issues
- 73% didn’t mention VAC.
Furthermore, the most frequent theme on VAC in the period 2015 – 2020 were violence against girls, children deprived of liberty, unaccompanied migrant children and child marriage. Noteworthy, the themes that have received low prioritization in HRC resolutions include domestic violence, child prostitution and pornography, child trafficking, online violence, neglect and armed violence.
Professor Veuthey, after reiterating the work made by the Order of Malta in combating human trafficking, emphasized that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a landmark of international public law that embodies fundamental universal values. However, there is little room for celebration and instead, a call for a resurgence of public conscience to defend these values. The time for words has passed, and it is time for action to be taken
