BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- China has taken important steps to prevent and respond to violence against children, a senior official of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said here on Wednesday, calling for more efforts and investment in this cause in China and across the globe.
Violence against children is severely "pervasive" worldwide, with estimated millions of children experiencing abuse, Dora Giusti, chief of Child Protection of UNICEF in China said in an interview with Xinhua, noting that priority should be given to preventing violence that leads to severe and lifelong consequences for children.
Violence against children can be physical, emotional or sexual, said Giusti, adding that it happens in all countries and settings, varying from a child's home, community, school and online.
She mentioned that there are parents or caregivers, teachers, peers and neighbors, trusted by children, would use violence as a way of disciplining in some parts of the world, adding that around 300 million children between 2-4 years old are subjected to violent discipline, such as physical punishment or psychological aggressive acts.
The spread of digital technologies also brings the possibility of online violence and other risks, including cyberbullying, online sexual abuse and exploitation, harmful content, threats to privacy and excessive screen time, Giusti said.
No matter what form of violence a child is exposed to, the experience may lead to serious and lifelong consequences such as mental issues, physical injury and even death for the individual. She said responding to those consequences generates high costs for public health, the justice system and social services sectors.
The global economic costs resulting from physical, psychological and sexual violence against children are massive, generating high costs for the public health system and the justice system, she added.
Working for almost 20 years in UNICEF worldwide and as a mother of a four-year-old daughter, Giusti weighed child protection as an issue close to her heart.
Governments must take considerable measures to protect children from violence, noted the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
"In China, the Law on Family Education Promotion and the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors recognize the importance of preventing and avoiding all forms of violence and provide strong support to effective prevention and response," she underscored.
"We also collaborate with the Chinese justice sector to strengthen child-friendly justice mechanisms and support services if children have been victims of violence," said Giusti.
Giusti noted that the Chinese government attaches great importance to developing and strengthening the child protection system. Several activities, including active parenting classes and group sports games, were held to promote children's psychosocial health, providing one-on-one, targeted services to children and families of children in distress.
She said that parents, teachers and the entire school community also play a critical role in protecting children from violence by teaching respect and non-violent interactions, raising awareness and addressing the situation when needed.
"We need to build a society that is supportive of social norms that condemn violence and foster protective environments," Giusti said. ■
