In her speech Ms. Santos Pais provided an outline of her plans to implement her mandate to the Third Committee of the General Assembly. She emphasised the importance of cooperation and mutual support between countries, national organisation and internationals organisations to eradicate violence against children. The United Nations Violence Against Children Study would be the basis and guiding principle of her work she added.

According to the latest research, each year between 500 million and 1.5 billion children experience some form of violence and abuse. Child helplines world wide received more than 1,2 million contacts on violence against children in 2008.  Our statistical analysis shows that an average child helpline receive ten calls on this issue each day, every day.

Not surprisingly, violence against children is a top priority for child helplines. Child helplines provide counselling services. If needed victims are referred to another organisation or receive interventions services from the child helplines themselves. Child helplines provide education, raise awareness and have outreach projects with schools, communities and families to prevent violence against children from occurring.

Marta Santos Pais was appointed as Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence Against Children in May 2009 and took up office in September 2009. CHI will work with Ms. Santos Pais in any way we can to eradicate violence against children.

For more information on the work of CHI on violence against children,