PHOTO: NIGERIA: In 1997 in Nigeria, three boys who used to live on the streets sit together holding mugs at a remand home for young offenders or abandoned children in Lagos, the country’s commercial capital. Some 10,000 children live on the city’s streets. From broken homes or extremely poor families, they often cannot find steady jobs and are at high risk of turning to drugs or becoming involved in crimes or other violence. (UNICEF/ HQ97-1159/Giacomo Pirozzi)
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The United Nations Secretary General’s Study on Violence against Children paints a detailed picture of the nature, extent and causes of violence against children and proposes recommendations on how to prevent and respond to it. The study was developed under the leadership of Prof. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, the independent expert appointed by the Secretary-General and with the support of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The study was prepared through a participatory process which included regional, sub-regional and national consultations, expert thematic meetings and field visits. Governments, international organisations, civil society organisations and children from around the world provided extensive inputs to the elaboration of the report and the formulation of its recommendations. At the UN General Assembly in October 2006, member States, international organisations and NGOs welcomed the study report and committed to promote the implementation of its recommendations.

Study outcomes

  • Our right to be protected from Violence (E | F | G | S) – For children and young people

After the Study

The independent expert led the first year of dissemination and follow up to the Study. In November 2007, responding to a recommendation of Study, the UN General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to appoint for a period of three years a Special Representative on violence against children. The SRSG is expected to act as a high-profile and independent global advocate to promote the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against children in all regions, while avoiding duplication. To read the approved text for the 2007 resolution click here.


Background documents | Independent expert | Inter-Agency Group on Violence Against Children | Media | Our Right to be Protected from Violence | Preparing the Study | Safe You, Safe Me | The UN Study on Violence against Children | World Report on Violence against Children

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Copyright © 2005 The United Nations Secretary General’s Study on Violence Against Children.