The representative of UN Women in Colombia, Bibiana Aido Almagro, called on mayors to include more women in decision-making in cities.
One in every two children or adolescents worldwide suffers a form of violence each year, affecting 100 billion minors, stated Peter Siegenthaler, representative of the World Bank (WB) in Colombia, and warned that of this number, some 120 million children have suffered some type of forced sexual contact.
With the sad reality of child abuse, the WB official welcomed the participants to the “First Ministerial Conference to End Violence against Children: The role of mayors: intensifying the prevention of violence against children.” children and violence against women in cities”, held in Bogotá, Colombia, and viewed in the region through the Zoom platform.
He explained the phenomenon that affects Colombia, where he said that the Attorney General’s Office alerts alarming statistics of child abuse, because between January and April of this year, more than 11 thousand cases of child violence were carried out nationwide.
While in the capital, Bogotá, more than 1,600 cases of violence against children and adolescents were reported. He urged presenting solutions that reverse the serious trend of complex violence, with a multisectoral approach, from the local to the global, and actions from health, education, public security and justice.
He reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to collaborate with all cities in the world in the prevention of violence against women, children and adolescents.
The mayor of Quito, Ecuador, Pabel Muñoz Lópezdeclared the firm commitment to eradicating violence against women and children.
He recalled that last year, his city hosted the “Safe Cities” meeting. “We sign the mayors’ commitment to generate spaces free of violence.”
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, indicated – in a virtual message – the efforts being made in the capital of England to guarantee the rights of women and children.
