Nizny Novgorod hosts a UNICEF-supported international conference on measures to protect children from violence

On March 22, 2011, an international conference entitled “Child Protection from Abusive Treatment and Violence: how to create a real safety net for children” commenced its work in the city of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.

Over 350 participants from 14 Russian regions as well as from Norway, Portugal, France and Sweden attend the conference, including representatives of federal and regional social welfare and youth policy authorities, guardianship and trusteeship agencies, health care workers, educators, senior officials from law enforcement agencies, child care facilities and non-governmental organizations. The conference agenda covers issues such as measures to prevent child abuse, rehabilitation of victims of domestic violence and moulding and enhancing the standards of psychological and pedagogical culture among parents.

Violence against children is widely perceived as a social taboo, particularly in case of violence inflicted upon children at home. Many forms of violence persist by tacit agreement within the society. According to official estimates which do not reflect the actual situation, about 2,000 children die as a result of violence and more than 150,000 children suffer from abusive treatment and violence every year.

During the two-day conference, its participants are expected to share the experiences they have gained in providing support for families in crisis, preventing domestic violence and promoting the right of children with disabilities to education and adequate development.

According to Russian experts and professionals from other countries, one of the primary goals in the field of combating violence against children is to set up mechanisms for early identification of families in crisis. Provision of timely counseling and support for such families allows to prevent numerous cases of violence. In their activities, the experts proceed from the assumption that the family is the best possible environment for child rearing, and they seek to be guided in their work by the best interests of the child.

“The conference participants, who work at different levels, are faced with the challenging objective to develop new social norms and standards implying public rejection of all forms of violence against children and implementation of actions to benefit children, which would enable us to hear the opinions of families and children and get them involved in decision making”, said Marielle Sander Lindstrom, UNICEF Deputy Representative in the Russian Federation.

UNICEF also called for the earliest possible ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography as one of the key international instruments aiming to prevent and eradicate violence against children.

The Conference was organized jointly with the Foundation to Support Children in Difficult Circumstances, the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod region, the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Russian President in the Privolzhsky Federal District and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

For further information, please contact:

Anna Kochineva, UNICEF Communication Officer

Tel: 8-916-238-0154

akochineva@unicef.org