Kutse edastamine

1

High-level roundtable on promoting investment case for ending violence against children

12 March 2024

Concept Note

BACKGROUND The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children (SRSG-VAC) has been promoting investment in integrated approaches to ensuring child protection and wellbeing as a central part of her advocacy with States. Within the framework of this advocacy objective, the Office of the SRSG has a cooperation agreement with the Government of Iceland. Based on the experience of Iceland and other States, this project is developing a model protocol and toolkit to support States in establishing or strengthening integrated services for children’s protection and wellbeing The project will in particular promote and support States in assessing the high return on investing in these services. The Minister of Education and Children of Iceland, H.E. Ásmundur Einar Daðason, has engaged extensively with other States on this theme, providing support and advice based on the experience of Iceland. The SRSG-VAC has also engaged extensively with States to identify examples of good practice and to promote the investment case for preventing and ending violence against children through high- level advocacy opportunities, bilateral engagement with State delegations in New York and Geneva, and in her country visits. As a follow-up to this engagement, the Minister of Education and Children of Iceland and the SRSG-VAC are convening a high-level roundtable on investing in integrated services to ensure children’s protection and wellbeing, bringing together champion States that have expressed interest in this theme and in the work being pursued by Iceland and the SRSG. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the meeting are to:

• Identity opportunities to mobilize other States and stakeholders to promote the investment case to prevent and end violence against children at the regional and global levels, including for the UN Summit of the Future to be hosted in September 2024.

• Facilitate peer-learning between States on integrating services for child protection and wellbeing, and on assessing the cost of violence and return on investing in violence prevention.

• Seek input from participants on how to maximize the relevance, impact and support provided by the tools being developed.

2

DATE AND FORMAT The meeting will be held online on Tuesday 12 March 2024 from 16:00-17:00 Geneva time. It is envisaged that simultaneous interpretation will be made available, depending on the requirements of participants. The meeting will be held under the Chatham House rule. A summary of the discussion will made available to participants but without attribution. PARTICIPANTS It is envisaged that participation in the discussion will be at ministerial level. Other participants at the meeting will include senior representatives of the United Nations and other international organizations. It is envisaged that technical experts will also participate to inform and support the discussions, as needed.

1

High-level roundtable on promoting investment case for ending violence against children

12 March 2024

Concept Note

BACKGROUND The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children (SRSG-VAC) has been promoting investment in integrated approaches to ensuring child protection and wellbeing as a central part of her advocacy with States. Within the framework of this advocacy objective, the Office of the SRSG has a cooperation agreement with the Government of Iceland. Based on the experience of Iceland and other States, this project is developing a model protocol and toolkit to support States in establishing or strengthening integrated services for children’s protection and wellbeing The project will in particular promote and support States in assessing the high return on investing in these services. The Minister of Education and Children of Iceland, H.E. Ásmundur Einar Daðason, has engaged extensively with other States on this theme, providing support and advice based on the experience of Iceland. The SRSG-VAC has also engaged extensively with States to identify examples of good practice and to promote the investment case for preventing and ending violence against children through high- level advocacy opportunities, bilateral engagement with State delegations in New York and Geneva, and in her country visits. As a follow-up to this engagement, the Minister of Education and Children of Iceland and the SRSG-VAC are convening a high-level roundtable on investing in integrated services to ensure children’s protection and wellbeing, bringing together champion States that have expressed interest in this theme and in the work being pursued by Iceland and the SRSG. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the meeting are to:

• Identity opportunities to mobilize other States and stakeholders to promote the investment case to prevent and end violence against children at the regional and global levels, including for the UN Summit of the Future to be hosted in September 2024.

• Facilitate peer-learning between States on integrating services for child protection and wellbeing, and on assessing the cost of violence and return on investing in violence prevention.

• Seek input from participants on how to maximize the relevance, impact and support provided by the tools being developed.

2

DATE AND FORMAT The meeting will be held online on Tuesday 12 March 2024 from 16:00-17:00 Geneva time. It is envisaged that simultaneous interpretation will be made available, depending on the requirements of participants. The meeting will be held under the Chatham House rule. A summary of the discussion will made available to participants but without attribution. PARTICIPANTS It is envisaged that participation in the discussion will be at ministerial level. Other participants at the meeting will include senior representatives of the United Nations and other international organizations. It is envisaged that technical experts will also participate to inform and support the discussions, as needed.

H.E. Signe Riisalo

Minister for Social Protetion

Estonia

16 February 2024

Excellency,

We have the honour to refer to the issue of investing in integrated approaches to ensuring children’s

protection and wellbeing.

The Ministry of Education and Children of Iceland and the Office of the UN Special Representative of the

Secretary-General on Violence against Children have a cooperation agreement related to this theme.

Within the framework of this cooperation, we have been engaging with States across different regions to

promote the investment case for preventing and ending violence against children, to identify examples of

good practice and to facilitate the exchange of experience.

Building on this engagement, we are seeking to convene an online high-level roundtable bringing together

States that have expressed interest in this theme and the work being pursued by the Ministry of Education

and Children in Iceland and the Office of the Special Representative. The principal aim of the roundtable

is to identify opportunities to mobilize other States and stakeholders to promote the investment case for

ending violence against children in 2024 and beyond. The discussions will also provide an opportunity to

facilitate peer-learning between States and to seek input from participants on how best to shape the tools

being developed in the context of our cooperation agreement.

The online roundtable will take place on 12 March 2024 from 16:00-17:00 Geneva time. It is envisaged

that the participation at the roundtable would be at ministerial level, with senior officials and technical

experts in attendance to provide support and input as needed. Further details are contained in the enclosed

concept note.

We would be honoured to count on your participation in the roundtable. In the event that you are in

position to participate, the Ministry of Education and Children in Iceland and the Office of the Special

Representative would be very pleased to provide any additional information that may be required. The

relevant contacts are Hjördís Þórðardóttir ([email protected]) and Mánus de Barra

([email protected]). In this connection, we would invite you to identify a focal point with whom our offices

can liaise regarding the preparations of the meeting.

We would greatly appreciate an indication of your availability by 29 February 2024 if possible. In the

event that you are unable to participate in the roundtable but would like to have a bilateral exchange with

either of us, our teams would be pleased to make the necessary arrangements.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of our highest consideration.

Ásmundur Einar Daðason

Minister of Education and Children

Najat Maalla M’jid

Special Representative of the Secretary-

General on Violence against Children

H.E. Signe Riisalo

Minister for Social Protetion

Estonia

16 February 2024

Excellency,

We have the honour to refer to the issue of investing in integrated approaches to ensuring children’s

protection and wellbeing.

The Ministry of Education and Children of Iceland and the Office of the UN Special Representative of the

Secretary-General on Violence against Children have a cooperation agreement related to this theme.

Within the framework of this cooperation, we have been engaging with States across different regions to

promote the investment case for preventing and ending violence against children, to identify examples of

good practice and to facilitate the exchange of experience.

Building on this engagement, we are seeking to convene an online high-level roundtable bringing together

States that have expressed interest in this theme and the work being pursued by the Ministry of Education

and Children in Iceland and the Office of the Special Representative. The principal aim of the roundtable

is to identify opportunities to mobilize other States and stakeholders to promote the investment case for

ending violence against children in 2024 and beyond. The discussions will also provide an opportunity to

facilitate peer-learning between States and to seek input from participants on how best to shape the tools

being developed in the context of our cooperation agreement.

The online roundtable will take place on 12 March 2024 from 16:00-17:00 Geneva time. It is envisaged

that the participation at the roundtable would be at ministerial level, with senior officials and technical

experts in attendance to provide support and input as needed. Further details are contained in the enclosed

concept note.

We would be honoured to count on your participation in the roundtable. In the event that you are in

position to participate, the Ministry of Education and Children in Iceland and the Office of the Special

Representative would be very pleased to provide any additional information that may be required. The

relevant contacts are Hjördís Þórðardóttir ([email protected]) and Mánus de Barra

([email protected]). In this connection, we would invite you to identify a focal point with whom our offices

can liaise regarding the preparations of the meeting.

We would greatly appreciate an indication of your availability by 29 February 2024 if possible. In the

event that you are unable to participate in the roundtable but would like to have a bilateral exchange with

either of us, our teams would be pleased to make the necessary arrangements.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of our highest consideration.

Ásmundur Einar Daðason

Minister of Education and Children

Najat Maalla M’jid

Special Representative of the Secretary-

General on Violence against Children