We all know that feeling of outrage, of sorrow, or regret that we feel every time we hear news of another child murdered, abused, raped, trafficked, bullied online or in school. No country or community is immune to the violence that is committed against children every day.

It’s the feeling that became almost overwhelming as we saw children die attempting to flee war in Syria, heard yet another story of a gang rape, a mass kidnapping, another school shooting.

It’s that shared feeling of sorrow, anger, regret that finally brought us to target 16.2 and other associated targets, of the new UN Sustainable Development Goals, a promise to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children. It’s why we are creating a Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, to make sure that we keep that commitment to children.

Violence against children is preventable. It does not have to be a fact of life. But for 1 billion children around the world 1 in 2 that’s exactly what it is.

Read the full article by Susan Bissell, Director of the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, here

 Arigatou International is part of the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children.