Press release 01 July 2009
Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Reminder: Press invitation - Violence against children theme of Forum on Human Rights

During two days this summer, 6-7 July, a number of NGOs and experts from around the world will meet in Stockholm, together with representatives of the EU and the UN, to discuss violence against children from a human rights perspective. This NGO Forum will be held during the Swedish Presidency of the EU, together with the European Commission.

The Forum, which is expected to attract over one hundred participants, will be opened by Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson. Other speakers include top officials for EU work on human rights, Riina Kionka and Veronique Arnault.

The list of speakers boasts several well-known experts in children's rights, including:

• The UN Secretary-General's newly appointed Special Representative on Violence Against Children, Marta Santos Pais.
• The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy.

Another key speaker will be Abubakarr Messeh Kamara, head of Youth Leaders - Sierra Leone, who, at the age of sixteen, founded a youth movement for human rights in his homeland.

The media is invited to attend the plenary sessions on Monday 6 July at (09.00-10.00) and on Tuesday 7 July at (09.00-10.00 and 10.45-12.15). Advance notice is required. Those wishing to attend should notify Barbro Elm, MFA Press Service no later than 29 June. Contact details below.