WWSF Women’s World Summit Foundation – children’s section   Press Service

Fondation Sommet Mondial des Femmes – section enfants      

Fundación Cumbre Mundial de la Mujer – sección niños                Contact: Jean-Pierre Mathys

Frauen-Weltgipfel-Stiftung – Kinderabteiling                        

                                                                                                             Tel.: +41 (0)22 738 66 19

                     Press Release

WWSF Children’s Section                               Geneva, le 8 November 2006

19 November - World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse

To the attention of the media,

The World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse will be commemorated on 19 November. This Day, launched in the year 2000 by the Women’s World Summit Foundation (WWSF), headquartered in Geneva, is celebrated for the seventh consecutive year by more than 700 governmental and non-governmental organizations in more than 110 countries.

The main objective of the World Day is to help create a culture of prevention of child abuse - emotional, physical and sexual - and of violence against children.  It is organized in synergy with the anniversary date of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (20 November).

In order to make the World Day an annual call to action, WWSF created an international coalition in the year 2001. The movement grew rapidly into a worldwide campaign that brought together to-date more than 700 organisations in more than 110 countries that commit to mark 19 November with local and national activities and events.

On 17 November, as a pre-view of the World Day, WWSF organizes a Conference-Debate at the International Geneva Conference Center (CICG, 17 rue de Varembé), with the participation of experts working in the field of child abuse prevention and the protection of the rights of the child. The theme of the conference is “How to parent well in the modern media age” and the names of the speakers are listed in the enclosed program.

A ceremony awarding the WWSF Prize for Prevention of Child Abuse will follow the conference-debate. This Prize honours every year four organizations that carried out innovative prevention activities in their countries. This year, exceptionally, two first prizes (3000 US dollars each) are awarded: one to the Indian organization Tulir CPHCSA (Centre for the prevention and healing of child sexual abuse) and one to the Queen Rania Family & Child Center at Jordan River Foundation. Two additional awards (US$ 500 each) are given to the Association Najdeh in Lebanon, and to the Cercle de Réflexion et d’Action pour Christ, CRAC, in Togo. A representative of Tulir CPHCSA will personally attend the award ceremony in Geneva on 17 November 2006.

We would very much appreciate if a Member of your Newspaper could be present at the Conference-Debate and the Prize award ceremony. We can also organize an interview, at your convenience, with Ms Laure Maitrejean, coordinator of the WWSF Children’s Section at the Women’s World Summit Foundation who will give you complete information on the World Day, the coalition of international organizations, and on the annual Prize for prevention of child abuse.

WWSF 11 av. de la Paix, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland • Tel: +41 (0)22 738 66 19 • Fax +41 (0)22 738 82 48