Presidential Message

International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) and worldwide endeavors to prevent child maltreatment

Recommendation 1. Create, implement, and monitor a national action plan for violence prevention

Since ISPCAN has members in 115 countries, we have the potential for influencing the production of at least that many national action plans. Being an international and multidisciplinary professional organization gives ISPCAN the opportunity to help set priorities and devise strategies in child maltreatment both at the country level and also at the international level. These tasks take the kind of expertise our members have, both in knowledge of the subject matter and of their local context.

Recommendation 2. Enhance capacity for collecting data on violence

In 2004 in Brisbane, ISPCAN will publish its 6th edition of World Perspectives. This publication provides a detailed summary of survey data, general child well-being indicators maintained by international health and child rights organizations (e.g., WHO, UNICEF) and a data dictionary. While it has its limitations it is a valiant attempt at providing a realistic picture of the extent of child maltreatment and available responses worldwide. The UN Study on Violence against Children is jointly

Recommendation 3. Define priorities for, and support research on, the causes, consequences, costs, and prevention of violence

In 1998 and 1999, articles (Krugman, 1998, Runyan, 1998, Theodore & Runyan, 1999) appeared on suggested research agendas for child maltreatment and the need to expand that agenda. Now 5 years later, as much has been done, it is worth reviewing those agendas and updating them to see what has been accomplished, what remains undone and what new challenges need to be faced.

Recommendation 4. Promote primary prevention responses

Daro and Donnelly articulate reasons for hope in child maltreatment prevention and predict a future wave where prevention advocates will not define prevention by absence of maltreatment, but will seek partners to maximize the potential of all children (Daro & Donnelly, 2002). Whether or not prevention is our primary goal or part of our daily work as citizens of our respective communities ISPCAN professionals are in a position to influence state, local, or institutional policy or the deployment

Recommendation 5. Strengthen responses for victims of violence

As stated in a previous message (Mian, 2002), ISPCAN is collaborating with WHO in the development of an intersectoral approach to child abuse prevention. The intersectoral approach entails the relevant sectors (health, legal, social, and others) working together to bring their sector’s perspective as well as that of the disciplines working within them in addressing child abuse and neglect prevention, which will serve as a tool for communities and disciplines developing their own guidelines to

Recommendation 6. Integrate violence prevention into social and educational policies, and thereby promote gender and social equality

ISPCAN as an organization is not working directly in this area, but it is likely that individual members and national partners are. The WHO/ISPCAN Integrated Approach to Child Abuse Prevention will address the need for policies in all sectors in matters that contribute to universal prevention of child maltreatment. In order to attempt to protect all children from ever experiencing abuse, policies that promote mutual respect of all persons regardless of gender or social status must be devised

Recommendation 7. Increase collaboration and exchange of information on violence prevention

ISPCAN has increasingly been forging partnerships and alliances to widen its reach in child maltreatment prevention. ISPCAN’s National Partner Program established a series of affiliations with national child abuse and neglect prevention organizations around the world. The collaboration aims to further the common mission, goals, and programs of ISPCAN and its Partners. For more information, see http://ispcan.org/resources.htm. There are now 16 National Partners in ISPCAN’s National Partner

Recommendation 8. Promote and monitor adherence to international treaties, laws, and other mechanisms to protect human rights

ISPCAN has officially adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, 1989). The CRC informs the work of professionals and organizations in virtually all nations and the Integrated Approach to Child Abuse Prevention. Closer attention to this convention and ongoing monitoring of states’ implementation of its articles will do much to promote a safe childhood. ISPCAN members are in a position to monitor their nation’s compliance with the

Recommendation 9. Seek practical, internationally agreed responses to the global drugs trade and the global arms trade

Again, this is not a direct focus of ISPCAN as an organization although, as mentioned in one of my earlier messages (Mian, 2002), ISPCAN will support other organizations that are working areas that impinge on child maltreatment in an attempt to contribute to child maltreatment prevention.

The World Report on Violence and Health provides a great opportunity to inform and unify our efforts on child maltreatment prevention. On behalf of the ISPCAN Executive Council, I urge all ISPCAN members and