A/HRC/19/64 South Asia Initiative to End Violence against Children (SAIEVAC) 2010-2015 Workplan, Kathmandu, Nepal, November 2010 1. Background The governments of South Asia have followed up the recommendations to the UN Study on Violence Against Children (2006) to varying degrees. Current initiatives to protect children from violence are fragmented, largely uncoordinated and ad hoc. Adopting a child protection systems approach means children are treated as individuals and receive a comprehensive range of services for larger overall impact. It comprises the set of strategies, policies, plans, laws, regulations and services needed across all social sectors — especially social welfare, education, health, security and justice — to support prevention and response to protection related risks. Responsibilities need to be spread across government agencies, with services delivered by national and local authorities, non-State providers, and community groups, making coordination between sectors and levels, including routine referral systems, a necessary component of effective child protection systems. Strengthening such systems requires attention to policy reform, institutional capacity development, planning, budgeting, monitoring and information systems. Child protection systems are most effective when structured around community-based protection and require an aware and supportive public. Through the formation of the South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC) governments have reiterated their commitment to addressing the enormous scale and urgency of violence against children in all forms and this workplan is a strategic framework to coordinate, standardize, and monitor progress annually. While the UN Study‘s recommendations are an overall broad framework for all governments in South Asia, this workplan provides specific actions for governments in the region and offers practical indicators to ensure governments can measure change. 2. 2.1 Vision, Aims, Scope, Definitions Vision SAIEVAC‘s vision is that all children, girls and boys, throughout South Asia enjoy their right to an environment free from all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect and discrimination. 2.2 Aims The aims of the workplan are: a. To ensure the realization of children‘s rights as stated in the UNCRC and its Optional Protocols b. To prevent and respond to all forms of neglect, abuse, exploitation and violence against children in all settings c. To promote the adoption, implementation, and monitoring of integrated national strategies with adequate budgets and resource allocation to prevent and protect children from violence and ensure response Asia d. To reinforce regional cooperation to end violence against children in South 47