Delivered to the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council - Interactive Dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence against Children.

This statement highlights the psychological and mental violence experienced by children when their parents are sentenced to death or executed. These children have been invisible in statistics, policies and programmes. The statement provides examples of the welcome increasing attention in the UN to the situation and rights of these children. FWCC (Quakers) recommends that much more is done to understand how and why these children are exposed to violence and to undertake actions that can lead to their effective protection.

To view a video recording of the oral statement by QUNO's Rachel Brett, click here.

See also:

• Written statement to the Human Rights Council 25th session: "Children of parents sentenced to death or executed: UN developments since the HRC Panel.”
• Children of Parents Sentenced to Death or Executed: How are they affected? How can they be supported
• Lightening the Load of the Parental Death Sentence on Children
• Briefing Paper: Children of Parents Sentenced to Death
• Report: Children of Parents Sentenced to Death

Water and land are two of the key natural resources that shape billions of peoples’ livelihoods, food security, wellbeing and identity. Developing management of water, land and food that is equitable and peaceful is an increasingly challenging task due to a multitude of factors – such as resource degradation, population growth and violent conflict – that can fuel tensions and exacerbate vulnerabilities around natural resources. Increasing climate uncertainties now lend an additional urgency to the need to develop appropriate policy and practice at international, national and local levels.

This joint written statement was submitted by the Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers), Defence for Children International, Geneva Infant Feeding Association, the International Catholic Child Bureau, the International Institute for Child Protection and SOS Kinderdorf International. This submission highlights the need for increased attention to the impact on children of having a parent sentenced to death or executed. 

This is a very detailed study exploring the situations of children whose parents have been sentenced with capital punishment. It looks first at the commonalities between their experiences and those of children whose parents have been incarcerated, and then at the differences between these groups of children. It also sets out recommendations.

See also:

• Children of Parents Sentenced to Death: How are they affected? How can they be supported?
• Briefing Paper: Children of Parents Sentenced to Death
• Report: Children of Parents Sentenced to Death
• This oral statement.

Geneva's newsletter from January to March 2013. Featured stories:​

• QUNO engagement with climate talks
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Geneva's newsletter from May to August 2012. Featured stories:

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• Children of parents sentenced to death: New work at QUNO Geneva

The first time a UN body considered the question children with parents in prison was in September 2011, in a Committee on the Rights of the Child day of general discussion on the topic. This paper details the issues, good practice and recommendations relating to children of prisoners that emerged from that day of general discussion.

See also the related Briefing Paper and Exhibition.