Where you’ll find Equality Now at the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children

The first-ever Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children will take place in Bogotá, Colombia, on November 7-8, 2024. Hosted by the Governments of Colombia and Sweden, in partnership with WHO, UNICEF, and the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on ending violence against children, the conference will focus on advancing policies, mobilizing resources, and showing that violence prevention is possible.

Government officials, children, youth, survivors, and civil society representatives will join forces to push for an end to all forms of violence against children.

While many of the main conference events are reserved for registered participants, several parallel events will be open to the public. Equality Now and its partners will host activities in the days leading up to the conference, creating opportunities for engagement and discussion.

Breakfast: For Childhoods – United for the Elimination of Child, Early, and Forced Marriage

November 5, 2024, 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM (Bogotá time), Participation by invitation only

This event aims to foster strategic dialogue between members of Congress, civil society organizations, and key stakeholders to advocate for the approval of Bill No. 297.

In Colombia, thousands of girls and adolescents are affected every year by child marriage and early or forced unions. These practices restrict their access to education, expose them to health risks and violence, and deny them the opportunity to pursue an independent life. Bill No. 297 of 2024 seeks to establish strong legal protections to put an end to these harmful practices, ensuring a more equitable future for all.

Participants in the event will include representatives from Girls Not Brides, Global Fund for Children, GENFAMI, Profamilia, Equality Now, and members of the Colombian Congress.

Regional and Global Efforts to End Child Marriage and Early Unions

November 5, 2024, 5:30 – 8:30 pm (Bogotá time), Hotel Wyndham, Bogotá

English and Spanish, interpretation in both languages.

Equality Now, Girls Not Brides, Profamilia, and GENFAMI will host a collaborative discussion that aims to engage civil society organizations in a guided conversation about child marriage and early or forced unions (CEFMU) as forms of violence against children. Participants will reflect on key questions:

• What do we know about CEFMU, and why are they considered a form of violence against children?
• How does CEFMU manifest in the region, and what are some of their consequences?
• What can organizations and participants do to help end  CEFMU and violence against children from their respective roles?

Open dialogue-based event to foster discussion amongst CSOs

Ending Female Genital Mutilation Globally

November 6, 2024, 9:00-10:30 am (Bogotá time), Hotel Tequendama, Bogotá

English and Spanish, interpretation in both languages.

The Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Bogotá is a crucial opportunity to address FGM as a critical form of violence that directly impacts children. The context in Colombia, where the Congress is currently debating three bills which all propose to address FGM also makes this an important issue for the Colombian context. This satellite event, organized by Equality Now, Orchid Project and The Girl Generation, will focus on building momentum to highlight end FGM agenda as part of the broader efforts to eliminate violence against children.

• Moderator: Divya Srinivasan, Global Lead on Ending Harmful Practices, Equality Now 
• Carolina Giraldo Botero, Congresswoman from Colombia
• Francia Elena Giraldo Guasorna, Embera Indigenous leader  of FGM from Colombia 
• Viviana Vargas, Coordinator  of the gender and diversity group of the Ministry of the Interior, Government of Colombia (TBC)
• Maria Paula Suarez, Global Policy and Advocacy Advisor for Protection from Violence, Plan International 
• Indrani Sarkar, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF East and Southern Africa Regional Office

Satellite Event of Movimiento de Valientes Latin America & the Caribbean: Survivors and Allies’ Demands for the Bogotá Call to Action to Eradicate Sexual Violence Against children

November 6, 2024, 2 pm (Bogotá time), Hotel Hilton Corferias, Bogotá

English and Spanish, interpretation in both languages.

This event will provide a platform for dialogue with survivors, members of academia, civil society, and government representatives, where we will present and discuss the pledges put forth by survivors of sexual violence and allied organizations. These pledges have been submitted for inclusion in the Global Call to Action to End Violence Against Children in the coming decade.

Our Global Executive Director, S. Mona Sinha will be at the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, along with Global Lead on Ending Harmful Practices, Divya Srinivasan, Legal and Advocacy Advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean, Sandra Ramirez, and Regional Communications Officer, Tamara Rusansky.

If you’d like to connect at the conference get in touch with Tamara Rusansky on: trusansky@equalitynow.org.