FORMAL SIDE EVENTS (60 min.)

Official Conference side events designate space in the program for stakeholders to deliver deep-dive sessions on priority topics and solutions. 

Day 1: Lunch

TitleFocal PointRoomDescriptionConcept note
Corporal punishment (End Corporal Punishment) Bess Herbert
Sonia Vohito
Salon LMCorporal punishment is the most common and accepted form of violence against children, with substantial short- and long-term harms. In this session...--read-more--Corporal punishment is the most common and accepted form of violence against children, with substantial short- and long-term harms. In this session, co-hosted by the Chair of the CRC and a child, Ministers, academics, agencies and the UN SRSG VAC will discuss the latest developments in political action, legislation and implementation, research and global progress. Together they will chart a worldwide movement towards ending corporal punishment, as a powerful foundation for ending all violence against childrenLINK
Catalyzing multi-sectoral action to end online child sexual abuse: The WeProtect Model National Response framework (WeProtect Global Alliance and UNICEF) Iain Drennan
Afrooz Kaviani Johnson
Salon HIHosted by the WeProtect Global Alliance and UNICEF, this side event focuses on tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation enabled by technology... --read-more--Hosted by the WeProtect Global Alliance and UNICEF, this side event focuses on tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation enabled by technology. As our world becomes increasingly interconnected and more children access digital services, addressing online risks is more crucial than ever. This event will showcase practical examples of multi-sectoral national action informed by the WeProtect Model National Response Framework. It aims to inspire a renewed commitment to integrate online and technology-facilitated violence into national agendas to end violence against children.LINK
International Classification of Violence against Children (UN Statistics)Claudia Cappa
Stephen Blight
Salon KResponding to the challenge of inconsistent and fragmented data, the International Classification on Violence against Children (ICVAC) provides internationally agreed operational concepts, definitions, and ... --read-more--Responding to the challenge of inconsistent and fragmented data, the International Classification on Violence against Children (ICVAC) provides internationally agreed operational concepts, definitions, and principles for the collection and analysis of data on all forms of violence against children. This session will discuss the value and application of the ICVAC as a tool to address data gaps in different sectors, methodological guidelines, data collection tools, capacity building and a global data reporting mechanism on VAC.LINK
By girls for girls (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, Partnership for Maternal Neonatal and Child Health)
This is a closed event for adolescents and youth delegates under 25 years of age and their chaperones
Alessandra Guedes
Avni Amin
Salon NThis adolescent girl-led event will spotlight the urgent need to prevent and address violence against girls. Given the significant and specific burden of violence they face ...--read-more--This adolescent girl-led event will spotlight the urgent need to prevent and address violence against girls. Given the significant and specific burden of violence they face, this event aims to create a safe space for girls to voice their concerns and work together to develop “key asks” for policymakers, urging immediate action to address the unique forms of violence they face. The asks will be presented directly to decision-makers at a ministerial event on November 8.LINK
INSPIRE (INSPIRE working group)Greta MassettiSalon NOGlobally, up to 1 billion children are subject to physical, sexual, or emotional violence annually. INSPIRE: Seven Strategies for Ending Violence Against Children is a global framework that reflects the best-available evidence ... --read-more--Globally, up to 1 billion children are subject to physical, sexual, or emotional violence annually. INSPIRE: Seven Strategies for Ending Violence Against Children is a global framework that reflects the best-available evidence and strategies for counties and communities to reduce violence. This session will provide an overview of INSPIRE and describe how the package of resources can be used to plan and establish a strategic approach to data-driven, evidence-informed efforts to prevent violence against children.LINK

Day 1: Evening

TitleFocal PointRoomDescriptionConcept note
Focus on: Health (WHO) Berit Kieselbach
Salon HIThe health sector plays a vital role in preventing and responding to violence against children, yet it is often underrepresented in multisectoral responses...--read-more--The health sector plays a vital role in preventing and responding to violence against children, yet it is often underrepresented in multisectoral responses. This session will facilitate an informal discussion among health sector representatives and experts to strengthen the health sector's contribution in this area. Participants will explore key functions, such as collecting crucial data, implementing effective prevention strategies, and providing essential services for survivors. By fostering collaboration and sharing best practices, this dialogue aims to elevate the health sector's impact and ensure that children's needs are prioritized in efforts to end violence against them.LINK
Focus on: Education (Safe to Learn, UNESCO, Coalition for Good Schools and UNICEF) Line Baago-Rasmussen
Salon NOOn November 7, the Safe to Learn coalition will convene the Safe and Enabling side event, spotlighting the urgent crisis of school violence... --read-more--On November 7, the Safe to Learn coalition will convene the Safe and Enabling side event, spotlighting the urgent crisis of school violence and the actions taken by committed countries. The event aims to raise awareness, celebrate progress, and inspire new commitments from countries and donors. By fostering multi-sectoral collaboration, this event seeks to accelerate global efforts to create violence-free, inclusive schools where every child can learn in safety and dignity.LINK
Focus on: Peace and Justice (UNODC and UNHCR) Alexandra Souza Martins
Sitnour Babikers
Salon LMGlobal challenges including climate change and inequality drive forced displacement and increase children’s vulnerability to crime and violence. UNODC and UNHCR will explore... --read-more--Global challenges including climate change and inequality drive forced displacement and increase children’s vulnerability to crime and violence. UNODC and UNHCR will explore this phenomenon and its consequences for peace, justice and development through a technical session on Advancing Child Protection and Community Resilience in the Context of Forced Displacement. The event will serve as a platform for young people, government representatives and civil society organizations to share good practice, commitments and community level solutions.LINK
Focus on: Faith (Arigatou International) Maria Lucia Uribe
Salon JFaith communities are uniquely positioned to lead efforts to end violence against children. Their influence, their teachings, and deep commitment to protecting the vulnerable make them vital allies in this crucial mission. ... --read-more--Faith communities are uniquely positioned to lead efforts to end violence against children. Their influence, their teachings, and deep commitment to protecting the vulnerable make them vital allies in this crucial mission. The event will highlight the role of faith actors in promoting accountability, influencing policy, and shifting cultural norms to protect children. Hosted by Arigatou International and partners, it will showcase case studies, foster intergenerational dialogue, and explore collaborations with governments, faith-based organizations and religious communities.LINK
Focus on: Parents (Global Initiative to Support Parents)Lucie Cluver
Isang Awah
Salon NParenting is key to protecting children and preventing violence, with strong evidence supporting its effectiveness. Parenting programs offer low-cost, scalable solutions, ... --read-more--Parenting is key to protecting children and preventing violence, with strong evidence supporting its effectiveness. Parenting programs offer low-cost, scalable solutions, even in humanitarian settings, and address issues like sexual violence prevention and crime reduction, while boosting education and income. On November 7, the Global Initiative to Support Parents will host a side event on what is inside an effective parenting program, offering hands-on experience, and sharing insights on the global scale-up of these programs.LINK
Focus on: Children and Young people (CSO Forum, Restless and Scouts Movement) Bharti Mepani
Hannah Graham
Sarah Bafumba
Salon KThis is a dynamic dialogue led by children and young people focusing on ending violence against children. The session explores ... --read-more--This is a dynamic dialogue led by children and young people focusing on ending violence against children. The session explores themes of safe educational spaces, leadership, and accountability to children. The session also aims to strengthen collaborations between children, young people, and global leaders towards ending violence against children. LINK

Day 2: Breakfast

TitleFocal PointRoomDescriptionConcept note
Focus on: Mayors (WB, WHO and PAHO) Britta Monika Baer
K OR Salon HICities, many with large and diverse populations, share distinctive risks for violence, while presenting opportunities for scaling up violence prevention efforts. ...--read-more--Cities, many with large and diverse populations, share distinctive risks for violence, while presenting opportunities for scaling up violence prevention efforts. Recognizing the important role of cities, this side event offers a unique space to learn from mayors’ and local policymakers’ experiences, discuss lessons on how efforts to scale up violence prevention initiatives have or can work in their contexts, and highlight good practice examples, of how to adapt INSPIRE and RESPECT frameworks locally.LINK
Child recruitment – armed groups and criminal organizations (Presidential Council for Human Rights and IHL of Colombia) Laura Bernarda Garcia Palacios
Salon NThis side event, organized by the Colombian Presidential Office on Human Rights and IHL in collaboration with UNODC, UNICEF, Save the Children, ... --read-more--This side event, organized by the Colombian Presidential Office on Human Rights and IHL in collaboration with UNODC, UNICEF, Save the Children, War Child, and The Colombian Family Welfare Institute, will address the recruitment, use, and utilization of children and youth and its intensification in countries with armed conflicts and/ or organized crime. In this event, Representatives of States and International Organizations will share their experiences and approaches to facing this global challenge.LINK
‘Ask me Anything’ – with Dr Bessel Van Der Kolk, Dr Nadine Burke Harris and Dr Martin GriffithSabine Rakotomalala
Salon LMJoin three globally renowned thought leaders for a fully interactive ‘ask me anything’ side event. It will offer the opportunity to hear 15 minute talks ... --read-more--Join three globally renowned thought leaders for a fully interactive ‘ask me anything’ side event. It will offer the opportunity to hear 15 minute talks from three eminent leaders in the field, as well as dedicated time for audience questions and reflections. Reflecting their decades-long expertise – Dr Burke Harris will offer insights on early years Adverse Childhood Experiences, Dr Griffith will deep-dive on adolescents and Dr Van der Kolk will reflect on the implications of trauma across the life-course.

Day 2: Lunch

TitleFocal PointRoomDescriptionConcept note
Childhood Sexual Violence (To Zero)Amanda Pierz
Salon LMChildhood sexual violence is a deeply pervasive, but too often hidden, form of violence against children. Join To Zero, in partnership with Together for Girls, ...--read-more--Childhood sexual violence is a deeply pervasive, but too often hidden, form of violence against children. Join To Zero, in partnership with Together for Girls, for an in-depth briefing on the issue. Preview the field’s first-ever global vision and roadmap to end childhood sexual violence, gain important new insights from groundbreaking research into the scale of sexual violence against children, learn more about the global index benchmarking national responses and learn from survivors and their lived experience.LINK
Strengthening Child Protection Systems: an essential path for all countries to End Violence Against Children Alison Wright
Pablo Espiniella
Salon NThis side event extends the discussion in the High-Level Panel on Child Protection Systems Strengthening, by providing inspiration and practical examples of successful child protection systems strengthening measures from across contexts. It will bring together ... --read-more--This side event extends the discussion in the High-Level Panel on Child Protection Systems Strengthening, by providing inspiration and practical examples of successful child protection systems strengthening measures from across contexts. It will bring together governments, civil society and donors in a conversation focusing on multi-stakeholder and multi-sector collaboration. The event will highlight how political commitment and momentum generated by Pathfinding 2.0 can be harnessed to accelerate efforts to strengthen comprehensive and inclusive child protection systems, and the practical steps governments can take to implement the Framework for Action on Child Protection Systems Strengthening. The event will be hosted by Save the Children and World Vision in collaboration with the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children and UNICEF.LINK
Adverse Childhood Experiences (World Health Organization and Liverpool John Moores University) Mark Bellis
Jonathon Passmore
Salon KACEs include physical, verbal, and sexual abuse of children as well as other sources of childhood trauma such as living in a household ... --read-more--ACEs include physical, verbal, and sexual abuse of children as well as other sources of childhood trauma such as living in a household with violence between parents. The session provides an opportunity to discuss how common ACEs are and how they impact individuals’ health throughout their lives including through increasing risks of substance abuse, cancer and violence. Led by specialists in ACE related policy, research and practice the session will discuss how to prevent ACEs, reduce harms suffered by those who continue to experience them and so reduce the burden of ill health and costs faced by individuals and nations.LINK
The intersections of violence against children and violence against women: what they mean for children’s protection and wellbeing (UNICEF Innocenti, Equimundo, Prevention Collaborative, World Bank, World Health Organization) Alessandra Guedes
Salon HIThis session will examine the evidence about the important ways in which certain forms of violence against children and violence against women intersect, ...--read-more--This session will examine the evidence about the important ways in which certain forms of violence against children and violence against women intersect, including: co-occurrence, shared risk factors and intergenerational effects. We will explore the potential of gender transformative programs, which address the structural and social root causes of gender inequality, in preventing violence against children, as well as violence against women.LINK
Deinstitutionalization and Child Protection: Toward Inclusive and Safe CommunitiesPaola Andrea Rojas Lozano
Salon JTo reflect on the importance of deinstitutionalization for the social inclusion of persons with disabilities in Colombia, examining the current care conditions and the risks of various types of violence. ...--read-more--To reflect on the importance of deinstitutionalization for the social inclusion of persons with disabilities in Colombia, examining the current care conditions and the risks of various types of violence. The dialogue will be framed by international standards and best practices to support countries in their responsibility to guarantee the right of children, adolescents, young people, and adults with disabilities to live independently and within a community.LINK

Anonymous report

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