2016-10-12
UNITED STATES
FMSI visits the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Marta Santos Pais, received Brother Álvaro Sepúlveda in New York on Oct. 4 to know the points stressed at present in the office which she heads and to repeat the support of FMSI to the struggle against violence.
In her meeting with Br Álvaro, who went as representative of FMSI, Marta underscored a few urgent topics:
- Migrant children and refugees: prevention in the countries of origin, to assure that the conditions of residence or acceptance are coherent with the standards of human rights.
- The Objectives of Sustainable Development (OSD). That the voice of children continues to be present in the implementation and evaluation of the OSD, especially in reference to violence.
- School harassment (bullying), in the framework of the report of the Secretary General of the UNO (2016) on the protection against harassment (bullying).
- Adolescents deprived of liberty.
In turn, Br Álvaro explained to her the work that FMSI is doing with children and adolescents in Latin America, and also regarding the possibility of accompanying the passage of the migrants through Marist presences which already exist or are being created (La Valla 200). For example, from Central America, passing through Mexico and arriving up to USA (East Harlem) or from Syria to Sicily.
The meeting was very profitable for FMSI, to perceive the strength that the theme of migrants and refugees has today in the United Nations and, at the same time, the state of invisibility in which children continue to be today.
It is very probable that within the next months, different actions will be carried out for the prevention and eradication of violence against migrant and refugee children. These will be opportunities for FMSI to be present and have influence, especially, to guarantee the right to education of migrant children.
Br Alvaro is member of the team of the Foundation, and is profiting of his stay in the United States because of professional formation, in order to develop relationships with representatives of institutions of the United Nations and identity the occasions in which FMSI can be present by its action of exercising influence.