Date: 19 November 2006

Child abuse, especially sexual abuse, is a universal and alarming problem and increased attention and efficient protection skills and prevention measures are necessary at family, local, national and international level.

Alerting Governments and civil society organisations to play a more active role in the promotion of and respect for the rights of the child and contribute to the prevention of child abuse, the Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF) launched in 2000 the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse, a Day to be commemorated every 19 November in synergy with the anniversary of the International Day for the rights of the child (20 November) which has as its objective to be a rallying point around the issue of child abuse and the need for urgent effective prevention programmes.

To make the Day a global call for action, WWSF launched in 2001 an international NGO coalition that marks the World Day with appropriate events and activities to focus on and increase prevention education. The main purpose of the NGO Coalition is to contribute to the creation of a culture of prevention of child abuse and form a global partnership network to raise awareness, mobilise public opinion and action, and disseminate prevention programmes.

To join the Coalition, members commit to mark the Day with local and national events and activities; mention the Day in their publications and on their websites; distribute posters, educational programmes and information; create partnerships with local organisations working for the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, alert the press and radio stations, inform local authorities of the existence of the Day and planned activities, and lobby governments for official proclamation of the Day as a National Day.

So far, 625 organisations from 115 countries have joined the international coalition. WWSF is calling for more organisations to join the 2006 global campaign and is asking existing members of the coalition to renew their membership by completing and returning the registration form by 1 June 2006. Organisations' will then receive new campaign materials in due course.

For more information, contact:
Women's World Summit Foundation
11 Avenue de la Paix
PO Box 2001
1202 Geneva
Tel: + 41 22 738 6619; Fax: + 41 22 738 8248
Email: wdpca@wwsf.ch
Website: www.woman.ch

[Source: CRIN]