International NGO Advisory Council

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Our Role

The International NGO Advisory Council for follow-up to the UN Secretary-General's Study on Violence Against Children (AdCo) was formed in 2007 to support strong and effective follow-up to the Study. Its central role today is to work closely with the SRSG to ensure civil society participation in the follow up activities.

Who we are

The Advisory Council is composed of 18 members:

• Nine Members representing international NGOs, and

• Nine Members selected at regional level representing national and regional NGOs.

International representatives were nominated by NGOs and were selected based on the representative’s/organisation’s commitment to the study, expertise on violence against children, ability to relate to broader networks during the follow-up, past history of participation in the study process, and potential contribution to the follow-up process. Regional members were elected based on the same criteria. Each region organised its own appointment process.

Activities include:

1. Encouraging and facilitating NGO involvement at national, regional and international levels in follow-up advocacy with governments, UN agencies and others for full implementation of the UNSG’s Study recommendations;

2. Working with the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children  in identifying key priorities and developing follow-up activities and strategies to ensure effective implementation of the Study’s recommendations;

3. Identifying and transmiting important information regarding VAC from the field level to the SRSG and other appropriate UN bodies;

4. Using and strengthening existing information channels and networks (e.g. CRIN, NGO Group mailing lists, etc.) to inform the child rights NGO community regarding the follow-up of the UNSG’s Study on VAC and its implementation;

5. Supporting the SRSG in developing a mechanism for the participation of children and young people in follow up activities

6. Participating in the monitoring of the implementation of the Study’s recommendations by member states

7. Developing advocacy tools for national NGOs in order to monitor the implementation of the Study's recommendations.

Current Members:

Jo Becker, Human Rights Watch (Co-Chair)

Roberta Cecchetti, Save the Children International (Co-Chair)

Peter Newell, Global Initiative to End all Corporal Punishment of Children (Co-Chair)

Ruthi Hoffman Hanchett, World Vision International

Ileana Bello, Defence for Children International

Theo Noten, End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT)

Cecile Trochu Grasso, OMCT/World Organization Against Torture

Ann-Kristin Vervik, Plan International

Veronica Yates, Child Rights Information Network (CRIN)

Regional Representatives

North America: Katherine Covell, Children's Rights Centre, Cape Breton
University, Sydney, Nova Scotia Canada

South Asia: A.K.M. Masud Ali, INCIDIN Bangladesh

West and Central Africa: Mr MALLY Kwadjo Essediaba, WAO Afrique (Action
to stop child exploitation), Lomé, Togo.

Latin America: Gerardo Sauri, Red por los Derechos de la Infancia en México

The Caribbean: Hellen van der Wal, Stichting Arubaanse Kinder- en Jeugdtelefoon – Child Helpline Aruba

East and Southern Africa: Judith Mulenga, Zambia Civic Education Association

East Asia & Pacific: Irene V. Fonacier-Fellizar, Center for the Promotion, Advocacy and Protection of the Rights of the Child Foundation, Inc.

Middle East and North Africa: Thaira Shalan, Arab Council for Childhood and Development

Europe and Central Asia: Thomas Mueller, Child Helpline International

More about the Members, including biographies here.

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