15 November 2005 - CRINMAIL 730
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- DIGITAL DIVIDE: Child Rights at the World Summit on the Information Society [event]
- SEXUAL EXPLOITATION: Violence against Children in Cyberspace [publication]
- CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT: Fighting the recruitment of child soldiers [publication]
- CHILDCARE: Study of Institutional Childcare in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union [publication]
- CHILD ABUSE: World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse 2005 [event]
- CHILDREN AND HIV/AIDS: Lesson for Life 2005 Update [news]
- EMPLOYMENT: University of Nottingham - RETRAK - ECPAT [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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- DIGITAL DIVIDE: Child Rights at the World Summit on the Information Society [event]
The second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is currently taking place in Tunis, Tunisia. WSIS was organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 2001 (Resolution 56/183). The WSIS process involves participation from high-level government representatives, UN bodies, NGOs, the private sector and the media.
The digital revolution has brought better communication between people, and improved access to information and knowledge. Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) are now considered as an essential tool in the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, many are left behind, and the "digital divide" between the rich and the poor affects precisely those who need information the most. The objective of WSIS is to generate a global discussion and take action on this issue.
The first phase of WSIS took place in Geneva in December 2003. It developed a common political will to take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, and adopted a Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action. Working groups were then set up to put the Plan of Action into motion and reach agreements in the fields of internet governance and financing mechanisms. These working groups will provide inputs to the second phase of WSIS in Tunis this week. Also, measures will be taken to bridge the digital divide and hasten the achievement of the MDGs with the help of ICTs.
For more information, contact:
UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Place des Nations1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
Tel: + 41 22 730 5111; Fax: + 41 22 733 7256
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.itu.int/osg/cec/wsis2003/
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=6225
Child Helpline International (CHI) and other child rights NGOs and networks have put forward a submission on "Children and ICTs": http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/CHI_joint_submission.pdf
ECPAT has put forward a submission calling on WSIS to protect children and young people from the dangers which accompany the benefits of expanding access to the Internet, mobile phones and other new technologies: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=6228
ECPAT and UNICEF are organising a panel discussion on e-child protection:
http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=6569
Statement made by child rights NGOs to the Plenary of Governments at the WSIS Prepcom-3 in September 2005: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=6570&flag=news
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- SEXUAL EXPLOITATION: Violence against Children in Cyberspace [publication]
[BANGKOK, 11 November 2005] - Weak laws and fragmented industry action is exposing children around the world to increasingly serious violence through the Internet and other cyber technologies, according to a new report released last week by ECPAT International. "Violence against Children in Cyberspace" was written with leading experts around the world as a contribution to the UN Study on Violence against Children.
The report says violence against children through new technologies is pervasive, causes deep and lasting physical and psychological damage to the child victims, and is outstripping the resources of law enforcement agencies. It draws together the latest knowledge on cyber violence against children and outlines an agenda for action, including greater industry action and stronger national legislations harmonised to international standards.
Forms of cyber violence against children outlined in the report include: child pornography and 'live' online sexual abuse for paying customers, online sexual solicitation, cyber stalking and bullying, and access to illegal and harmful materials. As well, child exploiters use cyberspace to network for child sex tourism and trafficking.
The UN Study leader, Professor Paulo Pinheiro has welcomed the report as a comprehensive and "groundbreaking" overview of violence against children related to new technologies and sounding a clear warning of the urgent need for action to combat it. "This report gives the global community no excuse for saying that 'we didn't know' or 'we couldn't foresee' the exponentially increasing violence caused to children in relation to new information and communication technologies," he says.
The report estimates the child pornography industry to be worth billions of dollars a year, although most child sex abuse images are traded for non-monetary gain. The main free-to-view sites have been traced to Russia, the US, Spain, Thailand, Japan and the Republic of Korea. More than half of the child sex abuse images which are sold for profit are generated from the US and nearly a quarter from Russia. These countries are also the main hosts of commercial child pornography websites, followed by Spain and Sweden.
Millions of child sex abuse images circulate online, and through mobile phones and peer networks. Interpol's shared child pornography database contains images of between 10,000 and 20,000 individual child victims, of whom fewer than 350 have ever been located.
The key elements of the report's Agenda for Action are: stronger legislation and law enforcement, greater responsibility from the IT industry, and comprehensive education campaigns.
For more information, contact:
Deborah Muir, ECPAT International
328 Phaya Thai Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel: + 66 2 215 3388; Fax: + 66 2 215 8272
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Websites: http://www.ecpat.net
To read the report, visit:
http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=6567 (English)
http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=6568 (French)
http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=6558 (Spanish)
Visit ECPAT-CHIS website on the global campaign for industry responsibility to combat violence against children in cyberspace at: http://www.make-IT-safe.net
Visit CRIN's website on the UN Study on Violence against Children at: http://www.childrenandviolence.org
ECPAT and UNICEF are organising a panel discussion on e-child protection at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) currently taking place in Tunis (see above):
http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=6569
The 17th Meeting of the Task Force to protect children against sexual exploitation in tourism took place yesterday in London: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=6572
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- CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT: Fighting the recruitment of child soldiers [publication]
[LONDON, 11 November 2005] - Save the Children has published a report that looks at the reasons why children join armed groups and recommends ways of tackling the recruitment process. Tens of thousands of children from at least 60 countries were recruited into armies, militia and rebel factions between 2001 and 2004, constituting a gross abuse of children's rights.
"Fighting Back" is based on interviews with 300 children and 200 parents and carers in conflict situations in the Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Liberia, found that while some children are forced to join armed groups against their will, many others join voluntarily for a wide range of reasons, including:
- a lack of alternatives: many children cited a lack of access to education and vocational training as a major reason for joining an armed group
- inadequate care: a third of the ex-child soldiers interviewed said they had been recruited after becoming separated from their parents or carers.
- poverty and hunger: having sufficient food to eat, or being able to provide for parents and siblings, was consistently described as one of the only benefits of joining the fighters.
- protection: some joined to safeguard themselves and/or their families and their possessions.
- power: some ex-child soldiers said they joined to gain power and material wealth and be able to do things they wouldn't normally be able to do, with boys accused of joining to "get" (rape) girls.
- revenge: some joined to avenge abusive or humiliating behaviour or the death of a family member by another armed group.
- excitement: others were lured by a desire to have fun and/or adventures, make friends or find a partner.
But the report found that life with an armed group was far from "exciting". As well as risking death or injury on a daily basis, the vast majority of children who had been formerly associated with fighters spoke of extreme hardship and suffering physically, psychologically and sexually abuse. And those who had chosen to join were often deeply disillusioned.
For more information, contact:
Save the Children UK
1 St John's Lane, London, EC1M 4AR, UK
Tel: + 44 20 7012 6400; Fax: + 44 20 7012 6963
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.savethechildren.org.uk
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=6571
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- CHILDCARE: Study of Institutional Childcare in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union [publication]
EveryChild has just published a new report entitled "Family Matters: a study of institutional childcare in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union", written by Richard Carter. The report is a study of institutional childcare across Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, and reveals the true extent of the crisis today.
There are over 1.3 million children living in institutional care across Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, and, more alarmingly, the rate at which children are entering care is actually increasing. There is little support and virtually no alternative forms of childcare available to desperate parents, and many feel they have no option but to place their child in an institution.
For more information, contact:
EveryChild
4 Bath Place, Rivington Street
London EC2A 3DR, UK
Tel: + 44 (0)20 7749 2490
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.everychild.org.uk
Visit: http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=6563
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- CHILD ABUSE: World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse 2005 [event]
On the occasion of the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse (19 November), launched in 2000 and marked for the sixth year by more than 600 organisations world-wide, the Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF) is organising the following activities in Geneva, on Friday 18 November 2005 (Palais Wilson):
* Award Ceremony "Betty Makoni Prize": WWSF awards four organisations for their innovative prevention activities (International Child Abuse Network Inc, USA - Asociación Afecto contra el maltrato infantil, Colombia - Muhammadan Women Welfare Society, Pakistan - Youth Net and Counselling YONECO, Malawi).
Betty Makoni is a remarkable child rights advocate in Zimbabwe. Herself victim of abuse in her childhood, she used her experience to fight against all forms of child abuse and founded in 1998 the Girl Child Network which includes today 155 clubs and offers various training programmes including prevention of child abuse to thousands of girls. Known as an outstanding community leader in her country, Betty has so far protected and rehabilitated more than 20,000 girls, victims of rape, early marriages, genital mutilation and other forms of sexual abuse. Naming the Prize after her, honours Betty Makoni's exceptional commitment to child abuse prevention.
* Conference-debate "Progress in preventing child abuse - Annual Review IV": Experts in the field of child rights present prevention programmes at the Swiss, regional and international level.
The Women's World Summit Foundation is an international, non-profit, non-confessional empowerment NGO that serves to help implement women's and children's rights and the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). To make the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse a global call for action, WWSF launched in 2001 an international NGO coalition that marks the World Day with appropriate events and activities to focus on and increase prevention education.
For more information, contact:
Laure Maitrejean, Children's Section Co-ordinator
WWSF Women's World Summit Foundation
11 Avenue de la Paix, Ch-1202 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: + 41 (0) 22 738 66 19; Fax: + 41 (0) 22 738 82 48
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.woman.ch
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=6488&flag=event
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- CHILDREN AND HIV/AIDS: Lesson for Life 2005 Update [news]
At the end of 2004, 2.2 million children under the age of 15 were living with HIV. In the first half of 2005 alone, 410,000 of those children had already died. Every minute a child dies because of AIDS. Every 15 seconds a young person between the ages of 15 and 24 is infected with HIV. Less than 5 per cent of HIV-positive children have access to any kind of treatment.
Because there is no cure for AIDS, prevention is essential. Millions of young people know too little about HIV to protect themselves. Surveys in sub-Saharan Africa have found that only 21 per cent of young women and 30 per cent of young men know the basics about how to avoid infection.
In 2004, 4.3 million people from 67 countries around the world took part in the Lesson for Life. In 2005 the Lesson for Life is set to reach even more children and young people. Over 10 million children are now estimated to be taking part in the Lesson for Life on World AIDS Day (1 December) this year, in 60 countries around the world.
The Vice-President of Ghana launched the month-long Lesson for Life campaign recently, which will culminate in a 'national durbar' on 1 December. Mercy, a young child, spoke at the event, saying 'Children are affected, mothers are affected, fathers are affected. It is time to keep the promise to take care of us, the promise to protect us. Let's keep the promise to give free treatment to children'.
In Zambia, children living with HIV/AIDS have been visiting the health and education ministers to demand free access to healthcare for everyone. These children will speak at an event in Lusaka attended by the Minister for Children and Sport on 1 December, demanding better access to medicines for children affected.
In Kosovo, children from 'peace clubs' across the country will take part in the Lesson for Life. Health department representatives will be on hand at each event to answer questions from children involved.
In Ecuador, an exhibition on children and HIV/AIDS will be launched on the same day as the Lesson for Life, which will then travel to 19 towns around the country. A debate will be held on access to treatment for HIV/AIDS, in the capital, Quito.
Over 300 secondary schools in the UK will be taking part in the Lesson for Life. A survey of children's knowledge of HIV will be published and a launch will be held at a school in London.
For more information, contact:
Kate Norgrove, Global Movement for Children
c/o Save the Children, 1 St John's Lane, London, EC1M 4AR, UK
Tel: + 44 207 012 6860
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.gmfc.org/hivaids
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=6314
To contact country co-ordinators and find out how to participate, visit:
http://www.gmfc.org/index.php/gmc6/content/view/full/642
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- EMPLOYMENT: University of Nottingham - RETRAK - ECPAT [job postings]
* UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM: Project Officer
The University of Nottingham Human Rights Law Centre is seeking a Project Officer to work as a consultant for a two month human rights capacity-building assessment project on Iraq. The project officer would be involved in the logistical planning for the exercise. S/he would then be part of a team undertaking a three-week visit to Iraq and Jordan. The project officer would then be involved in writing up the project report.
Applicants should speak and write Arabic and English and have strong logistical and report writing skills and previous experience of similar human rights capacity-building project work. . The project will be implemented between December 2005 and February 2006.
Application deadline: 23 November 2005
For more information, contact:
James Harrison, Human Rights Law Centre, School of Law
University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Tel: + 44 (0)115 9515705; Fax + 44 (0)115 8466579
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/law/hrlc
* RETRAK: UK Trust Fund and Institutional Fundraiser
RETRAK is seeking a part-time UK Trust Fund and Institutional Fundraiser to maximise its income from charitable trusts and institutional donors. The postholder's tasks will involve submitting applications to Trust Funds already identified and research new sources of funding following through with applications; committing to raise funds in line with financial targets; liasing with field-based and US-based Fundraisers; providing follow up reports; keeping comprehensive records; providing information for budget preparation.
Application deadline: 25 November 2005
For more information, contact:
Danny John, RETRAK
6 Water Avens Close, St. Mellons, Cardiff, CF3 ORG
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.retrak.org
* ECPAT: Programme Officer, Child and Youth Participation - Campaigns Officer
ECPAT International is seeking a Programme Officer, Child and Youth Participation, to work in Bangkok, Thailand for a duration of two years (renewable). The overall purpose of the job is to promote, co-ordinate, encourage, and support integration of children and young people's participation in the ECPAT network and among all partners committed to the work against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC), and to ensure integration of children and young people's views and opinions in all aspects of ECPAT's work.
ECPAT is also seeking a Campaigns Officer to strategize, plan and co-ordinate ECPAT International's campaigns related to the commercial sexual exploitation of children, and to provide technical support in advocacy, lobbying and campaigning to the ECPAT Secretariat and the network.
Application deadlines: 9 December 2005
For more information, contact:
ECPAT International
328 Phaya Thai Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel: + 662 215 3388; Fax: + 662 215 8272
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ecpat.net
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