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Summary: Children present their recommendations at
the Regional Consultation.
[19 May 2005, ISLAMABAD] - Children took the floor this morning to tell
their governments how violence affects them in their lives and what
governments must do to end the violence. They began with a drama
performance to illustrate the forms of violence they face, including, violence
against the girl child in the home, sexual abuse, violence in the community,
such as acid throwing, physical punishment in the home and in the school.
Children then read out the statement they had worked on very hard for
the past two days. The declaration, called “Partners in Change” explained
what forms of violence children face and how it makes them feel. They
then talked about some initiatives that had been undertaken in the region,
specifically by children, and for children. Children then presented their
recommendations to parents and governments, and also made specific
recommendations on the three main themes to be examined during the
consultation. These included:
End Physical and psychological/emotional punishment and promote love
and affection for children:
· Governments should create national laws against physical and
psychological punishment and make systems to implement and properly
monitor these
· Teachers should behave lovingly and affectionately towards
children
· Governments should ensure that laws are widely known by
everybody
· Teachers should be given proper teacher’s training and training
on positive discipline and parents on parental education
· There should be mechanisms in school and out of school where
children can complain about severe punishment
End Gender Based Violence:
· Parents should know about children’s rights and treat girls and
boys equally
· The government should make laws for violence against girls
specifically and implement them strictly throughout the country
· Governments should raise awareness frequently and regularly
on violence against girls- through media, such as radio, papers, television,
posters, notices and school curriculum throughout the country
End Child Sexual Abuse:
· Try to implement the laws of the CRC relating to sexual abuse
for children and abusers
· Counseling and other support should be accessible in the
community for the children
· Forming Child Task Forces which will work on preventing child
sexual abuse
· Include prevention of child sexual abuse education in the
curriculum – provide safety education from a young age
In their final statement, read out by several of them, children
declared: “We urge you to activate these recommendations and others
made by children in previous consultations and to involve us when
designing actions on violence against girls and boys in each country and
the region”.