A group of 46 countries committed this Friday to Bogota to build a future without violence for children, which affects more than half of childrengirls and adolescents of the world, stated the Colombian Foreign Minister, Luis Gilberto Murillo.
These nations signed the ‘Called to the action of Bogota‘, presented at the closing of the first Global Ministerial Conference to end the violence against childhood, which is focused, according to Murillo, “on the urgent need to put an end to violence“, which is “unacceptable.”
The document also commits the signatories to comply with all the agreements international related to protection of the young people.
“This commitment It is challenging, but our societies have to respond to this challenge, if we do not challenge ourselves we will not advance protect to childhood as it should be protected,” said Murillo and added that “this conference “It is an important step forward towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.”
He ‘Called to the action of Bogota‘ was signed by Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Luxembourg, Mexico and Morocco.
The Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Uruguay also hosted it.
Other results
The conferencein which more than 1,400 people participated, also led to the “launch of the first global movement dedicated to protection against the violence children’s”, which will be led by childrengirls and adolescents and was one of the objectives of this event.
Likewise, according to Murillo, “a initiative collective also renewed protection to children and guided by states” and the “creation of a platform for survivors of violence” so that they can share their experiences there.
During the closingForeign Minister Murillo received a certificate because Colombia broke the record Guinness hosting the summit to end the violence against children with the largest number of countries present, since 119 nations in total participated.
“We arrived at the ceremony closingwhich on the one hand fills us with a certain nostalgia because we will have to go out to our countries, but on the other hand we are loaded with hope because we are going with routes of action,” said Murillo.
Melanie López, a Guatemalan girl, also participated on the final day and raised her voice to express that “every hit, every scream, every abuse is an attack on the innocence and purity of our societythe children They are the future.”
“What kind of society are we building? We have to create a society in which the children and girls, don’t be afraid to go out anywhere,” he said to the applause of the audience.
This conference was organized by the Governments from Colombia and Sweden; the World Health Organization (WHO); the Special Representative on Violence against Children, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and it was the first time that so many countries met to talk about this issue.
“We are at a key moment of change to emphasize that the violence against the children and yes it is possible to change the quality of life, education and social services available to children“concluded Sweden’s Minister of Social Services, Camilla Waltersson.
