A/HRC/37/48 III. Mainstreaming children’s protection from violence in the national policy agenda 51. The Special Representative continued to give support to the consolidation of national implementation efforts, including through country visits to Barbados, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Greece, Indonesia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Panama and Thailand. 52. During her second visit to Cambodia, the Special Representative participated in the launch of the Action Plan to Prevent and Respond to Violence against Children 2017-2021.8 The Plan was informed by the findings of a household survey on violence against children conducted in 2014, the first in the region. The survey found that children experienced and witnessed violence in their public and private lives, at home, at school, in their communities and online. 53. Adolescents and young people played a significant role in the creation of the Action Plan through their active participation in discussions and policy dialogues across the country, and their views and experiences will remain critical in its implementation. Civil society organizations were also actively involved and continue to play an indispensable role in supporting the strengthening of the child protection system in Cambodia. 54. Important measures are being taken to prevent violence against children and to improve services for victims. These measures include a positive parenting strategic plan, teacher-training modules in the use of non-violent methods of discipline, a handbook for training health professionals, an action plan to reduce by 30 per cent the number of children in residential care, and a new juvenile justice law that promotes diversion and the prevention of the deprivation of liberty of children. 55. Mexico launched its own national plan of action to end violence against children.9 The plan was developed through a wide participatory process and is aligned with the 2030 Agenda. It identifies critical priority actions, including legislative reforms to prohibit all forms of violence against children and address situations of child marriage. It also envisages the promotion of a national campaign on violence against children; investment in online safety; enhanced mechanisms of counselling, complaint and reporting on incidents of violence; the strengthening of coordination of actions; and support for children’s participation. The Plan includes an important assessment of children’s exposure to violence, as well as of children’s views and recommendations. 56. Paraguay adopted a national plan for the protection of children against abuse and all forms of violence.10 The plan is framed by the 2030 Agenda, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the recommendations made in the United Nations study. It is the result of interdepartmental cooperation and a participatory process. Its implementation is overseen by the National Commission for the Prevention and Response to Violence against Children. Children and adolescents were key informants in the development of the plan, and remain critical actors in its implementation, including by raising awareness of the various manifestations of violence and mechanisms for reporting violent incidents, promoting information about the plan among peers and families, and supporting advocacy efforts in municipalities and communities. 8 9 10 10 Available at www.unicef.org/cambodia/Full_VAC_Action_Plan_En_Final_AP.pdf. See www.unicef.org/mexico/spanish/PLAN_ACCION_FINAL.pdf. See www.snna.gov.py/archivos/documentos/Plan%20de%20Accion%20Pais_r1v7aq8u.pdf.

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents