News
World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit has accepted an invitation from the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children to serve on the organization’s board of directors.
The nonprofit partnership was formed by countries, civil society, the United Nations, the academic community and the private sector to transform shared responsibilities for ending violence against children into concrete action. The organization provides a global platform for countries – and all those working toward the goal of ending violence against children – to share lessons learned and best practices, and to facilitate greater cooperation and coordination of their common efforts.
Tveit joins other board members selected for their influence, access and range of perspectives needed to secure political and financial support to end violence against children in all countries.
Tveit said that the vision of the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children reflects a key facet of the WCC’s global pilgrimage of justice and peace. “Every child has a right to a safe childhood,” said Tveit. “When we protect children from violence, we ultimately support the development of their societies, the growth of their economies, and peace-building within their countries. There is an intense power of hope in this effort.”
Serving children is at the heart of the WCC’s pilgrimage of justice and peace, Tveit added. “Across the world, children deserve to carry on their daily lives with their God-given human dignity and rights recognized and restored.”
The inaugural meeting of the partnership board being held on 1 December at the UNICEF House in New York City. Tveit will also attend a pre-meeting reception on 30 November that is being co-hosted by the Mission of Mexico. He will also join other board members in a visit to a local youth anti-violence program in Harlem, New York.
During their meeting, board members will be adopting a strategy developed over many months of consultations with a wide array of stakeholders and experts in the field, including more than 1,500 children. The strategy was born out of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which recognize the fundamental link between protecting children from violence and building more peaceful and prosperous societies. In the eyes of the partnership, the inclusion of specific targets for ending violence against children in its many forms could represent a turning point for millions of vulnerable children – but only if these targets are met with concerted action, not only by countries, but by everyone.
