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	Countries failing to prevent violence against children, agencies warn by UNICEF, UNESCO, WHO, End Violence Partnership   June 2020   Half of the world’s children, or approximately 1 billion children each year are affected by physical, sexual or psychological violence, suffering injuries, disabilities and death, because countries have failed to follow established strategies to protect them.   This is according to a new report published today by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, UNESCO, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence against Children and the End Violence Partnership.   “There is never any excuse for violence against children," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “We have evidence-based tools to prevent it, which we urge all countries to implement. Protecting the health and well-being of children is central to protecting our collective health and well-being, now and for the future.”   The report – Global Status Report on Preventing Violence Against Children 2020 – is the first of its kind, charting progress in 155 countries against the “INSPIRE” framework, a set of seven strategies for preventing and responding to violence against children.   The report signals a clear need in all countries to scale up efforts to implement them. While nearly all countries (88%) have key laws in place to protect children against violence, less than half of countries (47%) said these were being strongly enforced.   The report includes the first ever global homicide estimates specifically for children under 18 years of age – previous estimates were based on data that included 18 to 19-year olds. It finds that, in 2017, around 40,000 children were victims of homicide.   “Violence against children has always been pervasive, and now things could be getting much worse,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “Lockdowns, school closures and movement restrictions have left far too many children stuck with their abusers, without the safe space that school would normally offer.   It is urgent to scale up efforts to protect children during these times and beyond, including by designating social service workers as essential and strengthening child helplines.”   Progress is generally uneven   Of the INSPIRE strategies, only access to schools through enrollment showed the most progress with 54% of countries reporting that a sufficient number of children in need were being reached in this way. Between 32% to 37% of countries considered that victims of violence could access support services, while 26% of countries provided programmes on parent and caregiver support; 21% of countries had programmes to change harmful norms; and 15% of countries had modifications to provide safe physical environments for children.   Although a majority of countries (83%) have national data on violence against children, only 21% used these to set baselines and national targets to prevent and respond to violence against children.   About 80% of countries have national plans of action and policies but only one-fifth have plans that are fully funded or have measurable targets. A lack of funding combined with inadequate professional capacity are likely contributing factors and a reason why implementation has been slow.   The COVID-19 response and its impact on children   “During the COVID-19 pandemic, and the related school closures, we have seen a rise in violence and hate online – and this includes bullying. Now, as schools begin to re-open, children are expressing their fears about going back to school,” said Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General.   “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that schools are safe environments for all children. We need to think and act collectively to stop violence at school and in our societies at large.”   Stay-at-home measures including school closures have limited the usual sources of support for families and individuals such as friends, extended family or professionals. This further erodes victims’ ability to successfully cope with crises and the new routines of daily life. Spikes in calls to helplines for child abuse and intimate partner violence have been observed.   And while online communities have become central to maintain many children’s learning, support and play, an increase in harmful online behaviours including cyberbullying, risky online behavior and sexual exploitation have been identified.   “Whilst this report was being finalized, confinement measures and the disrupted provision of already limited child protection services exacerbated the vulnerability of children to various forms of violence,” said Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence against Children.   “To respond to this crisis a unified, child rights and multisectoral framework for action for children is critical requiring a strong mobilization of governments, bilateral/multilateral donors, civil society, private sector and children, whose views must be heard and truly taken into account to ensure duly protection and the possibility for all to thrive and reach their full potential.”   Accelerating action to protect children   WHO and its partners will continue to work with countries to fully implement the INSPIRE strategies by enhancing coordination, developing and implementing national action plans, prioritizing data collection, and strengthening legislative frameworks.   Global action is needed to ensure that the necessary financial and technical support is available to all countries. Monitoring and evaluation are crucial to determine the extent to which these prevention efforts are effectively delivered to all who need them.   “Ending violence against children is the right thing to do, a smart investment to make, and it’s possible. It is time to fully fund comprehensive national action plans that will keep children safe at home, at school, online and in their communities,” said Dr Howard Taylor, End Violence Partnership.   “We can and must create a world where every child can thrive free from violence and become a new generation of adults to experience healthy and prosperous lives.”   http://www.who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-health/violence-prevention/global-status-report-on-violence-against-children-2020 http://www.end-violence.org/ http://data.unicef.org/resources/protecting-children-from-violence-in-the-time-of-COVID-19-brochure/ Visit the related web page
	Boko Haram attacks civilians and exacerbates Nigeria’s COVID-19 crisis by Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect   17 June 2020   Boko Haram attacks civilians and exacerbates Nigeria’s COVID-19 crisis   There have been over 17,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria, where the federal government is struggling to curb the pandemic. Meanwhile the armed extremist group Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA), are exploiting the COVID-19 outbreak to expand their activities. Both armed groups have undermined the public health response by increasing their attacks and are also spreading misinformation regarding the virus.   On 9 June alleged Boko Haram fighters attacked the village of Faduma Koloram in Borno State, killing at least 81 residents. During the attack seven people were abducted and 1,200 cattle were stolen. The village was reportedly attacked because residents were accused of sharing information with the Nigerian security forces.   On 13 June two attacks took place on Goni Usmanti and Monguno - a town where the UN and several international humanitarian organizations have bases. The attacks resulted in at least 20 soldiers and more than 40 civilians being killed. On Monday, 15 June, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, “vehemently condemned” the violence and said that he was “shocked by the intensity of this attack. It is the latest of too many clashes affecting civilians, humanitarian actors and the assistance we provide.”   Despite the Nigerian government making significant progress against Boko Haram and ISWA since 2015, both groups have intensified their attacks in recent months and at least 2.5 million people remain internally displaced in the north-east of the country. During April the International Organization for Migration warned that an outbreak of COVID-19 could have “devastating consequences” for north-east Nigeria, where more than a third of health facilities have been destroyed by past attacks.   The Nigerian government should continue to support programs that strengthen local security, counter violent extremism, and bolster the rule of law in areas where Boko Haram operates. The Nigerian government should also request increased international assistance to protect vulnerable populations and defend health care workers and facilities.   June 2020   War crimes continue as mass graves are discovered in Libya   On 11 June the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced its “horror” at the discovery of eight mass graves in Tarhuna, the former western stronghold of Khalifa Haftar, self-declared Field Marshal of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) and al-Kaniyat, an affiliated militia.   Initial reports indicate that while some of the victims were executed, others were possibly buried alive. Charred bodies were also discovered in shipping containers elsewhere in the town. Investigations are ongoing, but officials from the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) stated that there were “dozens” of victims.   UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UNSMIL have called for “thorough and transparent investigations” of the mass graves, containers and other sites in accordance with international law. UNSMIL also welcomed the decision by the GNA’s Justice Minister to establish an investigative committee.   The mass graves were discovered following intense fighting that effectively ended Haftar’s 14-month campaign to capture Tripoli and overthrow the GNA. Since 5 June over 24,000 people have been displaced. Despite Haftar’s forces now being in retreat, fighting continues.   Armed groups in Libya have violated international humanitarian and human rights law since the latest conflict began in 2014. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued two arrest warrants for Mahmoud al-Werfalli, an LAAF commander, for war crimes allegedly committed between June 2016 and January 2018.   Various foreign powers, including permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC), have provided arms and support to parties to the conflict, including Haftar’s LAAF, despite a UN-mandated arms embargo.   Sarah Ewing, Communications Officer at the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, said that, “These mass graves are just the latest in a long line of atrocities endured by the Libyan people. The international community must ensure that impunity ends now and the perpetrators of these heinous acts are held accountable.”   Under the terms of UNSC Resolution 1970 (2011), the ICC may exercise jurisdiction over any mass atrocity crimes committed in Libya from February 2011 onwards. There have also been recent calls for the UN Human Rights Council to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate and provide evidence to various judicial mechanisms. The UNSC should impose targeted sanctions on all individuals and forces – both domestic and foreign - who continue to actively subvert the Libyan peace process and are attempting to overthrow the UN-recognized government.   http://www.globalr2p.org/populations-at-risk/ http://www.globalr2p.org/publications/r2p-monitor-issue-53-15-september-2020/   13 June 2020   UN chief calls for Libya mass grave investigation. (UN News)   The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has expressed deep shock at the discovery of mass graves in Libya over recent days, in territory that was recently in the hands of the so-called opposition Libyan National Army (LNA) led by General Khalifa Haftar.   The UN Support Mission in Libya, UNSMIL announced, on Thursday, the discovery of at least eight graves in Tarhouna, around 100 kilometres southeast of the capital, Tripoli, and formerly a stronghold for the forces of General Haftar, during his campaign to capture Tripoli, which has now lasted over a year.   In a statement released on Saturday, the UN spokesperson, Mr. Dujarric, said that the Secretary-General is calling for a “thorough and transparent investigation”, and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. In particular, he called on the authorities to “secure the mass graves, identify the victims, establish causes of death and return the bodies to next of kin”, and assured Libya that the United Nations has offered support in this regard.   “The Secretary-General once again reminds all parties to the conflict in Libya of their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law”, said Dujarric, adding that Mr. Guterres “reiterates his call for an immediate end to the fighting in Libya in order to save lives and end civilian suffering”.   The spokesman went on to note that the UN chief welcomes the resumption of the work of the Libyan Joint Military Commission, and hopes that a ceasefire will be agreed soon. On Wednesday, UNSMIL declared that the UN-backed authorities, and the LNA are "fully engaged" in the thirds round of talks.   During a recent Security Council meeting on Libya, Stephanie Williams, the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), briefed that Libyans had to deal with almost constant bombardment, and frequent water and electricity outages during the holy month of Ramadan.   “From what we are witnessing in terms of the massive influx of weaponry, equipment and mercenaries to the two sides, the only conclusion that we can draw is that this war will intensify, broaden and deepen - with devastating consequences for the Libyan people”, she told the Council. http://bit.ly/2YcD7yB   http://www.icj.org/libya-continuing-atrocities-must-compel-states-to-establish-an-international-investigative-mechanism-at-the-un-human-rights-council/ http://www.icj.org/category/news/ Visit the related web page
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