Interactive Dialogue with the SRSG on Violence against Children and the SR on Sale of Children
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Statement by A u s t r i a
Austria would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Violence against Children for her informative report. We commend her for her tireless work as an advocate for children and for the progress achieved in eliminating violence against children. We deem her mandate to be of great importance for the protection of children worldwide.
The promotion of national strategies to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against children is at the heart of the SR’s mandate. Legal protection is crucial in this regard. Recently, Austria has anchored a general prohibition of violence against children in our constitution. Nevertheless it seems that societal attitudes towards violence against children, especially when it comes to violence in the family, often lag behind legal reform. In her report the Special Rapporteur mentions the importance of awareness raising campaigns to change such attitudes. Could she share best practice in this regard?
As it is well known, Austria presents periodic resolutions on human rights in the administration of justice. Austria welcomes the SRSG’s focus on violence against children in the juvenile justice system and has supported a recent expert consultation held in collaboration with the OHCHR and UNODC in Vienna also mentioned in her report. Could she give a short summary of its main outcomes to the Council?
Austria would also like to thank the Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children for her comprehensive report. We have taken good note of her very practical recommendations regarding child protection in humanitarian interventions following natural disasters. Could the special Rapporteur tell us whether in her opinion children belonging to a minority may face special vulnerabilities in such an emergency situation and how such vulnerabilities could be addressed?
We would like to conclude in expressing our support for the efforts undertaken by both the SRSG and the SR in advocating for the universal ratification of the two optional protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We wish them both success in the continuation of their respective mandates.
I thank you.
