26 July 2005 - CRINMAIL 698
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- UN STUDY ON VIOLENCE: East and Southern Africa Consultation Closes [news]
- UN STUDY ON VIOLENCE: East and Southern Africa Consultation [resources]
- NEPAL: Children Victims of Violence in Ongoing Civil Conflict [publication]
- CHILD LABOUR: European Parliament Resolution Calls for Abolition [news]
- JUVENILE JUSTICE: Iran Continues to Execute Minors [news]
- EMPLOYMENT: CHI - SPARC - University of Nottingham [job postings]___________________________________________________________
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Your submissions are welcome if you are working in the area of child rights. To contribute, email us at [email protected]. Adobe Acrobat is required for viewing some of the documents, and if required can be downloaded from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html If you do not receive this email in html format, you will not be able to see some hyperlinks in the text. At the end of each item we have therefore provided a full URL linking to a web page where further information is available.
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- UN STUDY ON VIOLENCE: East and Southern Africa Consultation Closes [news]
[JOHANNESBURG, 20 July 2005] - The ninth and last consultation for the UN Study on Violence Against Children took place last week, from 18 to 20 July 2005, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The consultation gathered over 150 representatives from 21 countries from East and Southern Africa, including government representatives, NGOs, and children. The 54 child participants from the region met for two days prior to the consultation to prepare their contribution to the consultation.
Up until a few weeks ago, there were still doubts as to whether this meeting would be taking place, as it had already been postponed on several occasions. A representative of the South African Ministry of Education explained that this was a 'preparatory' consultation because most countries in the region had not yet submitted their questionnaires to the Secretariat, and the African Union had not been fully involved in this process. It is still unclear whether a regional Consultation will be taking place at a later date.
During the final day of the consultation, preliminary findings from working groups were presented to the plenary. Recommendations were agreed upon but are still subject to final technical amendments before they are made available.
A representative of the African Union (AU) said its role was one of leadership and advocacy. It brings up important issues, such as recommendations made here at the highest level for endorsement by national governments and it oversees the implementation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. The Charter, she said, was not well known and there is a need to popularise it, to all stakeholders, including children. In light of this, she said the ratification process of the African Charter by countries that had not yet done so had to be accelerated.
Dr. Aseffa Bequele, Member of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, said this consultation had been a good opportunity to bring NGOs and governments together to discuss issues that were never raised before. "Our task is enormous and should be carried out at pan African level and at national level." The Committee is entrusted with the task of promoting the rights and welfare of the child and there is no more fundamental right and obligation than protecting children from violence. He said he hoped the Committee will take this up as one the themes to push to focus on in the coming years.
He ended by mentioning the connection between poverty, culture and violence saying it was a very deceptive issue. "Poverty is fundamental to many issues in our region. Yet, poverty is no excuse for inaction, poverty is no excuse for raping women, or raping children. Poverty is no excuse for beating women or beating children. It must be heard that we Africans are against violence against women and children."
Carol Bower from RAPCAN, spoke on behalf of NGOs participating at the consultation. She said they were pleased the consultation had succeeded in providing input in the global study, and that there was a commitment from NGOs in contributing to the development of a consolidated pan African position paper on violence against children.
Some of the child participants mentioned concerns they have with regards to violence in the home and family, in schools, in communities, in the workplace and in institutions. One child said children felt a big step had been taken here to ensure children are respected, however governments, NGOs, the UN and the private sector should ensure laws are implemented and monitored. "We will make sure to share our learning from this consultation with our parents and our communities when we come home" one young delegate added.
Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro said he was pleased detailed and clear recommendations had been agreed upon during this consultation, and they will surely be included in the Secretary-General's report to the General Assembly. He emphasised the input of civil society and their future role in the follow-up to recommendations.
For more information on the East and Southern Africa Consultation, go to:
http://www.crin.org/violence/regions/region.asp?regionID=1003
To read the NGO statement, go to:
http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=5927
For general information on the UN Study on Violence Against Children, visit: http://www.childrenandviolence.org [civil society website]
http://www.violencestudy.org [UN website]
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- UN STUDY ON VIOLENCE: East and Southern Africa Consultation [resources]
Q&A: Pinheiro meets child delegates:
As in previous regional consultations, Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the Independent Expert leading the UN Study on Violence Against Children met with the children attending the consultation to get their views and opinions about the consultation. To read a transcript of Pinheiro's dialogue with child delegates to the Consultation, go to: http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=5930
Regional report:
To read the regional report, "Assessment of Violence Against Children In the Eastern and Southern Africa Region - Results of an Initial Desk Review for the UN Secretary General's Study on Violence against Children", go to: http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=5920
Corporal punishment:
To read the presentation given by Peter Newell, Joint Co-ordinator, Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children, at the East and Southern Africa regional Consultation on Violence Against Children, go to:
http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=5938
For information on the children's Forum, which took place in Johannesburg from 16 to 17 July 2005, in preparation for the general Consultation, visit:
http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=5925
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- NEPAL: Children Victims of Violence in Ongoing Civil Conflict [publication]
Amnesty International revealed today that thousands of children across Nepal are facing serious violence and abuse in the ongoing conflict in Nepal, where Maoist rebels and security forces have been fighting a brutal internal conflict for the last nine years.
In a report entitled, "Nepal: Children Caught in the Conflict", the organisation said that Nepalese children are being killed, illegally detained, tortured, raped, abducted and recruited for military activities and accused both sides to the conflict of violating the most fundamental rights of children.
"This conflict is a disaster for the children of Nepal," said Purna Sen, Director of Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific Programme. "Some children have been directly targeted by one or other party to the conflict, while hundreds more have died from bombs and improvised explosive devices. Thousands of children have been forced to flee their homes and face desperate poverty and exploitation."
Both sides to the conflict have been responsible for killing children. The security forces have killed children they suspect of involvement with the Maoists, while the Maoists have abducted and killed the children of security forces personnel, as well as caused the deaths of many children by deliberately bombing civilian infrastructure and leaving improvised explosive devices in civilian areas.
There have been disturbing reports of children suspected of affiliation with the Maoist rebels being detained for long periods in army barracks, police stations or prisons - often held together with adults. Many child detainees report having been tortured by security forces during their detention.
Over the last few years the Maoists have abducted tens of thousands of school children for "political education" sessions, held in remote locations. While most of these children return home after a few days, some do not and it appears that the rebels are recruiting children for military activities and forced labour, despite the fact that the use of children under 15 in armed conflict is a war crime.
Education services have come under particular attack. Both sides have used school premises for military purposes and the Maoists have bombed a number of schools, injuring children. These attacks, combined with Maoist abductions of school children and crippling strikes, mean that many of Nepal's children are missing out on vital years of education.
For more information, contact:
Amnesty International - International Secretariat
99-119 Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4RE, UK
Tel: + 44 20 7814 6200; Fax: + 44 20 7833 1510
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.amnesty.org
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=5941
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- CHILD LABOUR: European Parliament Resolution Calls for Abolition [news]
[THE HAGUE, 20 July 2005] - The European Parliament calls upon the European Commission to help abolish child labour. This can be achieved by including strategies to get working children into formal education in all education programmes financed by the EU. The European Parliament also requests the Commission to urge UNESCO, the World Bank, the IMF and UNICEF to do the same. In addition the Parliament recommends legal action against EU-based importers using child labour or violating other fundamental labour rights.
The campaign 'Stop Child Labour - School is the best place to work' welcomes the European Parliament's new report on child labour in developing countries. The EU and its member states now spend hundreds of millions on education programmes in developing countries. These programmes often lack effective strategies, such as transitional education, to get children out of work and into school.
It is often argued that child labour is an inevitable consequence of economic poverty. The European Parliament disagrees, stating that "poverty does not have to be an insurmountable barrier preventing poor children to stop working and enjoy full-time education when appropriate actions are taken: ending child labour does not depend on ending poverty first". Ample evidence from India and other countries indeed shows that poor children can and do attend formal full-time education when given the opportunity.
In February the campaign 'Stop Child Labour' brought together a large number of NGOs and trade unions working on child labour and education to agree on a common position towards the EU. This common position and a number of recommendations were presented to the Greek EU rappporteur Mr. Manolis Mavrommatis and the Dutch shadow rapporteur Max van den Berg. Quite a few recommendations are reflected in the EP resolution, including a focus on the eradication of all forms of child labour as well as the interlinkage of abolishing child labour with the realisation of other fundamental labour rights.
Like 'Stop Child Labour', the Parliament believes that companies have an important role to play in combating child labour. It asks the Commission to support EU importers who are willing to accept independent child labour monitoring of the products they purchase. The Parliament also urges the European Commission to make compliance with core labour standards, including child labour, a precondition in its purchasing and contracting policy. Moreover it expects the Commission to make child labour and other core labour standards a permanent element in bilateral consultations.
For further information contact:
Gerard Oonk, India Committee of the Netherlands
Mariaplaats 4e, 3511 LH Utrecht, The Netherlands
Tel: + 31 30 2321340; Fax: + 31 30 2322246
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Website: http://www.schoolisthebestplacetowork.org
To read the report of the European Parliament and the Common Position Paper on child labour and education, go to: http://www.schoolisthebestplacetowork.org
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- JUVENILE JUSTICE: Iran Continues to Execute Minors [news]
[LONDON, 22 July 2005] - On 19 July 2005, an 18-year-old, identified only as A. M. and a minor, Mahmoud A, were publicly hanged in the north-eastern city of Mashhad. According to reports, they were convicted of sexual assault on a 13-year-old boy and had been detained 14 months ago. Prior to their execution, the two were also given 228 lashes each for drinking, disturbing the peace and theft.
Prior to this, on 13 July 2005, Ali Safarpour Rajabi, aged 20, was hanged for killing Hamid Enshadi, a police officer in Poldokhtar. Amnesty International recorded his death sentence as having been passed in February 2002, when he was 17 years old, and believes his crime may have been committed when he was only 16 years old.
As a state party to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Iran has undertaken not to execute anyone for an offence committed when they were under the age of 18.
For the past four years, the Iranian authorities have been considering legislation that would prohibit the use of the death penalty for offences committed by persons under the age of 18. Under Article 1210(1) of Iran's Civil Code, the ages of 15 lunar years for boys and nine lunar years for girls are set out as the age of criminal responsibility.
In January 2005, following its consideration of Iran's second periodic report on its implementation of the provisions of the CRC, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the body of independent experts established under this Convention to monitor states parties' compliance with the treaty, urged Iran:
"to take the necessary steps to immediately suspend the execution of all death penalties imposed on persons for having committed a crime before the age of 18, to take the appropriate legal measures to convert them to penalties in conformity with the provisions of the Convention and to abolish the death penalty as a sentence imposed on persons for having committed crimes before the age of 18, as required by article 37 of the Convention."
And, inter alia: "to suspend immediately the imposition and execution of all forms of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, such as amputation, flogging or stoning, for crimes committed by persons under 18." (paragraphs 30 and 72.b of the Committee's Concluding Observations, UN Doc. CRC/C/15/Add.254.)
So far this year, Iran has executed at least four persons for crimes committed when they were children including one who is still a child. Amnesty International has recorded 42 executions so far in 2005, but the true number could well be higher. It is now imperative for Iran to stop sentencing children to death, to end the executions of children, and to halt all forms of violence against children.
[Source: Amnesty International]
To read Iran's second periodic report submitted in January 2005 to the Committee, go to:
http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CRC.C.104.Add.3.En?OpenDocument
To read alternative reports submitted by NGOs to the Committee in January 2005 go to:
http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=4251
http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=4254
http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=5115
To read the Committee's Concluding Observations on Iran's State report, go to:
http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CRC.C.15.Add.254.En?OpenDocument
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- EMPLOYMENT: CHI - SPARC - University of Nottingham [job postings]
CHILD HELPLINE INTERNATIONAL (CHI): CHI is a global network in 71 countries of telephone and outreach services for children and young people. Child helplines across the world annually receive approximately 11.5 million calls from children and young people who call when they need crisis intervention, rehabilitation, counselling or just to talk to someone. At present there are 82 helplines in 71 countries. CHI's objective is to establish new helplines across the world and advocate for better services for children.
CHI is looking for a Programme Co-ordinator for Africa and the Middle East. The post holder will play a key role in initiating strategies and programmes and working towards realising the organisations objectives. The main tasks will involve: networking with existing helplines in the region; facilitating annual Regional Consultations; contributing to the International Consultation; facilitating new helplines; evaluation and reporting of projects; keeping an overview of all country level activities, etc. Child Helpline International is based in Amsterdam. This is an extendable one-year contract. Application deadline: 15 August 2005
For more information, contact:
Hannah Madden, Child Helpline International
Prinsengracht 468-3, 1017 KG Amsterdam, Netherlands
Tel: + 31 20 528 9627; Fax: + 31 20 638 7655
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.childhelplineinternational.org
CHI is also looking for a Senior Programme Manager, who will report to the Executive Director, playing a key role in developing strategies and programmes and working together with the junior programme managers to realise the organisation's objectives. Main tasks will involve: developing, managing and co-ordinating the work and budget of the programme team; supervising the development of individual projects and budgets; line managing and supervising the programme team; evaluating and reporting of projects, etc. This is a one-year contract. Application deadline: 15 August 2005
For more information, contact:
Paula Conaghan, Child Helpline International
Prinsengracht 468-3, 1017 KG Amsterdam, Netherlands
Tel: + 31 20 528 9625; Fax: + 31 20 638 7655
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.childhelplineinternational.org
SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD (SPARC): SPARC Pakistan acts to promote and protect the rights of children in Pakistan according to the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and through advocacy supported by research, awareness raising, service delivery and capacity building. SPARC Pakistan is looking for two Child Participation Officers, two Legal Aid Officers and one Programme Officer.
The Child Participation Officers (1 Lahore, 1 Karachi) are responsible for creating awareness about child rights among children and empowering them as child rights advocates by delivering interactive lessons and facilitating activities on child rights in government and private schools in Lahore/Karachi and, with local partners, in SPARC's project areas throughout Punjab/Sindh. Application deadline: 8 August 2005.
The Legal Aid Officers (1 Lahore, 1 Peshawar) will be responsible for arranging for and providing free legal aid to juvenile prisoners and child victims of crimes in Punjab/Frontier, including by seeking formation of district panels of lawyers under JJSO and by training district lawyers about JJSO and guiding them on providing legal aid to children. Application deadline: 8 August 2005.
The Programme Officer (Karachi) will assist with the implementation of the Children in Difficult Circumstances Programme in Sindh. Tasks will involve: co-ordinating with district volunteer committees; organising training for police, teachers and CRCs; preparing workplans and reports and maintaining supporting records; liaising with the media, NGOs and government departments. Application deadline: 8 August 2005.
For more information, contact the office corresponding to the location of the position:
SPARC Lahore
3, Fifth Floor, Rahim Complex, 31-E, Main Market Gulberg II, Lahore
Email: [email protected].
SPARC Karachi
304, Third Floor, Kashif Centre, Shahrahe Faisal, Karachi
Email: [email protected]
SPARC Peshawar
5, Fifth Floor, Bilour Plaza, Saddar Cantt, Peshawar
Email: [email protected].
UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM: The University of Nottingham's Human Rights Law Centre is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights and the establishments and strengthening of the rule of law world-wide. It carries out work by means of research, training and publications. The Centre is currently seeking to recruit a Research Associate/Fellow, for a one-year, fixed term contract, based in Nottingham, UK.
The post holder will work under the supervision of a project director to produce research on the role of human rights field officers. This will involve providing research and other support to experts commissioned to write in-depth research papers, organise research meetings, produce and disseminate project outputs such as reports, recommendations etc, support the project website and ensure day-to-day co-ordination of all aspects of the project. Application deadline: 1 August 2005.
For more information, contact:
James Harrison, Research and Programmes Co-ordinator
Room C119, Human Rights Law Centre
Law and Social Sciences, University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
Tel: + 44 115 8466310; Fax: + 44 115 8466579
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/law/hrlc
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