The Bernard van Leer Foundation has announced it will commit 300,000 euros to support the United Nations’ Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence against Children.  Marta Santos Pais, the Special Representative, has recently been appointed as the first UN  global advocate to prevent and protect children from all forms of violence. 

The Bernard van Leer Foundation funded local organization Caminos Posibles to study the experiences of young children in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, where there were more than 2000 homicides in 2009.  Among the findings, 85% of 6 to 8 year olds expressed fear or mistrust of people in their community.  When asked who, 76% reported gang members, drug addicts or drug traffickers followed by soldiers and police (8%).    

Lisa Jordan, Executive Director of the Bernard van Leer Foundation says: “Evidence from our work in Mexico, Israel and Colombia suggests that fear is a critical impediment to development in young children. We welcome the UN’s attention to this critical issue and we hope that our support will be helpful in establishing a long term global effort to reduce violence in young children’s lives.”