One billion children experience violence and abuse every year. That shocking figure has risen even higher
during the COVID-19 pandemic. Violence prevention and response services have been disrupted for 1.8
billion children living in more than 100 countries. 1.5 billion young people affected by school closures lost the protection and support that schools often provide.
Measures to contain the virus, along with economic hardship and family stress, have combined to create
‘perfect storm’ conditions for children vulnerable to observing or experiencing physical, emotional and
sexual abuse. Despite the benefits of digital connectivity, a life lived more online for learning, socialising and
gaming has significantly increased children’s exposure to those who wish to harm them.
Today, we stand at a critical moment for the world’s children. Unless we act now and with urgency, we risk
losing a generation of children to the long-term impacts of violence and abuse that will undermine child
safety, health, learning and development long after the pandemic subsides. We cannot let that happen.
As the world starts to emerge from the pandemic, we have an opportunity to reimagine and create more
peaceful, just and inclusive societies. Now is the time to redouble our collective efforts and translate what we
know works into accelerated progress towards the goal of a world where every child grows-up safe, secure
and in a nurturing environment.
We must create a world: where every child can grow up and thrive with dignity; where violence and abuse of
children is legally outlawed and socially unacceptable; where the relationship between parents and children
prevents the intergenerational transmission of violence; where children in every community can safely take
advantage of the digital world for learning, playing and socialising; where girls and boys experience stronger
developmental and educational outcomes because schools and other learning environments are safe,
gender-sensitive, inclusive and supportive; where sport is safe for children; where every effort is made to
protect the most vulnerable children from all forms of violence, exploitation and abuse, including those living
in situations of conflict and fragility (including climate-related fragility); and where all children can access safe
and child-friendly help when they need it.
The moral imperative and economic case for action to end violence against children are compelling. Action
today will not only prevent the devastating intergenerational social and economic impacts of violence on
children, families and societies; it will also help to address the wider impacts of COVID-19 and support
progress towards multiple Sustainable Development Goals.
Together, as leaders of organisations committed to ending violence against children, we urge leaders in
government, the private sector, faith communities, multilateral organisations, civil society and sports
bodies to seize the moment and be champions of this agenda in their countries, organisations, networks
and communities. We call on these leaders to prioritise protecting children in their policies, planning,
budgets and communications, and to work together to deliver six game-changing actions to end violence
against children:
Ban all forms of violence against children by 2030
Equip parents and caregivers to keep children safe
Make the internet safe for children
Make schools safe, non-violent and inclusive
Protect children from violence in humanitarian settings
More investment, better spentAs global organisations working to end violence against children, we will continue to advocate for and
invest in effective child protection, promoting solutions that recognise the different ways in which girls
and boys experience violence and abuse. We will collectively develop and share technical resources and
guidance for policymakers, practitioners, parents, caregivers and children themselves. And we will support
the courageous health, education, child protection and humanitarian professionals working alongside
faith leaders, community volunteers, parents and young people to keep children safe during these
unprecedented times.
In recent years, we have made significant gains in protecting children from violence. We must do all we can
to keep children safe during the current turmoil, and work together to build back better — to end all forms of
violence, abuse and exploitation of children.
SignatoriesAlice Albright, CEO, Global Partnership for EducationNiklas Andréen, President and Chief Operating Officer, Carlson Wagonlit TravelInger Ashing, CEO, Save the Children InternationalAudrey Azoulay, Director-General, UNESCOIrakli Beridze, Head of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, UNICRIScott Berkowitz, President and Founder, RAINNAnna Borgstrom, CEO, NetCleanProfessor Lucle Cluver, Universities of Oxford and Cape TownJulie Cordua, CEO, ThornBob Cunningham, CEO, International Centre for Missing and Exploited ChildrenProfessor Jennifer Davidson, Executive Director, Inspiring Children’s Futures, Uni. of StrathclydeMichelle DeLaune, Chief Operating Officer, National Center for Missing & Exploited ChildrenIain Drennan, Executive Director, WeProtect Global AllianceSuzanne Ehlers, CEO, Malala FundHelga Fogstad,, Executive-Director, PMNCHHenrietta H. Fore, Executive Director, UNICEFDr. Debi Fry, Co-Director, End Violence Lab, University of EdinburghVirginia Gamba, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed ConflictMeg Gardinier, Secretary General, ChildFund AllianceDr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHOFilippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for RefugeesPaula Guillet de Monthoux, Secretary General, World Childhood FoundationSusie Hargreaves, CEO, Internet Watch FoundationMary Harvey, CEO, Centre for Sport and Human RightsDenton Howard, Executive Director, INHOPEIngrid Johansen, CEO, SOS Children’s Villages InternationalEylah Kadjar, Secretary General ad Interim, Terre des Hommes International FederationBaroness Beeban Kidron OBE, Founder and Chair, 5Rights FoundationPatrick Krens, Executive Director, Child Helpline InternationalDr. A.K. Shiva Kumar, Global Co-Chair, Know Violence in ChildhoodDr. Daniela Ligiero, Executive Director and CEO, Together for GirlsElizabeth Lule, Executive Director, Early Childhood Development Action NetworkDr. Najat Maalla M’jid, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against ChildrenRev. Keishi Miyamoto, President, Arigatou InternationalPhumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN WomenAndrew Morley, President and CEO, World Vision InternationalThomas Muller, Acting Executive Director, ECPAT InternationalRaj Nooyi, Interim CEO, Plan InternationalDr. Joan Nyanyuki, Executive Director, African Child Policy ForumMabel van Oranje, Founder and Board Chair, Girls Not BridesPramila Patten, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in ConflictJoy Phumaphi, Board Co-Chair, Global Partnership to End Violence Against ChildrenRev. Prof. Dr. Ioan Sauca, Acting General Secretary, World Council of ChurchesDr. Rajeev Seth, Chair of the Board, IPSCANYasmine Sherif, Director, Education Cannot WaitDr. Howard Taylor, Executive Director, Global Partnership to End Violence Against ChildrenHelle Thorning-Schmidt, Board Co-Chair, Global Partnership to End Violence Against ChildrenLiv Tørres, Director, Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies, New York UniversityDr. Jennifer Wortham, Chair, World Day Global Collaborative
