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Summary: Summary of the keynote address by six girl
delegates at the East Asia and Pacific
Regional Consultation on Violence Against
Children, 14 June 2005.
Or read the full text
href='http://www.crin.org/violence/search/clos
eup.asp?infoID=5730'> here .
[BANGKOK, 14 June 2005] - Six girl delegates, Audrey, Minnie, Maggie,
Cora, Casey and Bella were voted in by the other under 18 delegates
to make the keynote address at the opening session of the East Asia and
Pacific regional consultation on violence against children.
The first delegate explained that for the last two days, they had been
working with thematic groups, discussing priority issues and
recommendations to lessen violence in the region. Another child explained
that during the forum they learnt to communicate, they shared knowledge,
discussed most important issues, thought of recommendations, and made
friends.
A third child said that they were all under 18, they say what they think,
represent children from their countries, and are bringing their ideas
here. “Children are being hurt,” she continued, “we must speak out to
protect ourselves, we can communicate with children more easily and
reflect the views of children who are victims, so we request all of you to
speak slower so we all have time for translation… Although it is more
difficult for us because we need support from guardians and parents, we
are not afraid of carrying the responsibility of representing our peers.”
Children then enumerated the issues they discussed:
1. Violence in the home:
- Can be caused by divorces or break up
- child labour, when parents do not work
- verbal abuse, sexual abuse (incest for example), physical abuse, neglect,
for instance when no food is given because of low grades
2. In the street and the community:
- drugs, alcohol, gangs
- all forms of abuse
- pornography
- discrimination, hunger on streets, maltreatment towards street children,
child trafficking, etc.
3. In the school:
- corporal punishment
- bullying by peers
- physical and mental punishment by teachers
- sexual abuse by teachers
4. Children in conflict with the law:
- All countries in this region permit corporal punishment
- children are convicted through the adult justice system and imprisoned
with adults
- abuse during interrogation processes
5. In institutions:
- staff are using hurtful words
- they punish or prevent from getting food
- they use children as personal servants
6. In cyberspace:
- on the internet, children are cheated online
- meet people online
- there is violent content, hateful language and abusive messages on the
internet
Children’s recommendations:
- Corporal punishment must be banned in homes, schools, and the justice
system, children need to be treated the same as adults
- governments should organisations that enable children to participate
- the UN, governments and the community must share information and
work together to prevent violence happening in the family
- they should also help children who have been victims of violence
- they must implement strategies and develop strict laws for those who
commit sexual abuse
- they should draft regulations on child working conditions, including
punishment for perpetrators
- there should be training about child rights in schools
Our vision for the consultation:
- Build on unity
- See our recommendations in final outcome
- For all to become partners, work together and cooperate