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.
1
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.
2
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 Najat Maalla M’jid
Minister of Education and Children Special Representative of the Secretary-
General on Violence against Children
Saatja: "SM Info"
Saaja: "SM Info"
Teema: FW: Invitation: High-level roundtable on promoting investment case for ending violence against children
Kuupäev: 2024-02-19 07:42
From: Tea Izzo <
[email protected] <mailto:
[email protected]> >
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2024 11:27 PM
To: Gerli Baida <
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[email protected]> >
Subject: Invitation: High-level roundtable on promoting investment case
for ending violence against children
Tere!
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Tea Izzo
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