Submitted by crinadmin on
Summary: - Children Denied Equal Protection from All
Violence (regional report)
- Children's Declaration at the Regional
Consultation
- Publications related to the Regional
Consultation
- Report on Abuse and Exploitation via Virtual
Settings
19 May 2005 CRINMAIL 679 Special Edition on the South Asia Regional
Consultation for the UN Study on Violence Against Children
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- REGIONAL CONSULTATION: How South Asia Plans to Wipe Away
Children's Tears
- REGIONAL REPORT: Children Denied Equal Protection from All Violence
- CHILD PARTICIPATION: Children's Declaration at the Regional Consultation
- RESOURCES: Publications related to the Regional Consultation
- CYBERSPACE: Report on Abuse and Exploitation via Virtual Settings
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- REGIONAL CONSULTATION: How South Asia Plans to Wipe Away
Children's Tears
[ISLAMABAD, 19 May 2005] - The South Asia Consultation opened today
with over 170 participants, including government representatives from the
seven South Asian countries, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, as well as NGO representatives,
UNICEF and 25 children. The aim of this consultation is to look at violence
in the region and work on recommendations for preventing and eliminating
it.
The first speaker this morning was Ms. Zubaida Jalal, Minister for Social
Welfare and Special Education, who commented that one of the main
reasons for violence is ignorance and denial. Professor Paulo Sergio
Pinheiro, Independent Expert for the Secretary-General's Study on Violence
Against children added: "even if most of the world publicly denies violence
against children, it is still present in every country of the world". The aim of
the study, he explained, is to break the walls of silence on this issue: "this
report will be more than a catalogue of horrors, it will be policy-oriented, it
will look at the root causes of violence and find ways of preventing violence
from occurring".
The keynote speech was delivered by the First Lady of Pakistan, Mrs
Musharraf, who highlighted the fact that children form 48 per cent of the
total population of South Asia, therefore more needs to be invested in
children. Addressing children, she said "we expect that you will continue to
explore new avenues to make our society free from violence, and everyone
of us is here to help you in this". Following her presentation, children and
government representatives were invited by the First Lady to an inaugural
event consisting of a release of Message Balloons, each balloon
symbolising a tear.
Peter Newell, Joint Co-ordinator of the Global Initiative to End All Corporal
Punishment of Children, who is also on the editorial board for the UN
Study, presented a summary of the Regional Study that summarises the
clear legal obligations to protect all children from all forms of violence -
obligations which all states in the region have accepted, under key
international human rights instruments. "We are not talking about doing
favours to children, but about fulfilling the promises that States have made
to them and to all citizens". [see below for more details]
Children made their contribution to the consultation through drama,
illustrating their experiences of violence, and a declaration containing
recommendations for parents and governments. [see below for more
details]
The afternoon session was dedicated to country presentations, and looked
at the main issues affecting children, government initiatives, gaps,
challenges and plans for improving the situation for children. Baela Raza
Jamil, from the Centre for Education and Consciousness, Pakistan,
commented on the fact that all the issues discussed were mainstream and
did not address the real issues: "all the discussions about law and justice
are still very much irrelevant for poor people, as taking recourse to law is
so slow and ineffectual that it is not even worth it for them, we still have
colonial laws when it comes to child rights".
The representative from India explained that India has an excellent
constitution and laws, however results are not there, because
implementers are not as good as 'frameworkers'. "It's not enough to frame
the laws", she continued, "we need to change the mindset of the people.
What is required is advocacy, talking about issues. This is where civil
society participation becomes important, and everyone has to contribute.
That is the biggest challenge".
Tomorrow morning, participants will break away into three groups, for the
three themes that are the focus of this consultation: gender related
violence specific to girls, child sexual abuse and physical and psychological
punishment.
For more information on the South Asia Consultation, visit:
http://www.crin.org/violence/regions/region.asp?regionID=1001
Contact: Veronica Yates on vyates@crin.org
For general information on the UN Study on Violence Against Children, visit:
http://www.childrenandviolence.org (civil society website) or
http://www.violencestudy.org (UN website)
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- REGIONAL REPORT: Children Denied Equal Protection from All Violence
Peter Newell, Joint Co-ordinator of the Global Initiative to End All Corporal
Punishment of Children, who is also on the editorial board for the UN
Study, presented a summary report of the Regional Study. The aim of the
Regional Study is to examine and map the current situation of children in
South Asia pertaining to violence, abuse, and exploitation. It will inform the
Study as well as regional processes regarding issues, challenges, gaps
and best practices. Regional Studies are working documents which support
discussions at national Consultations and at Regional Consultations.
The report presented today summarises the clear legal obligations to
protect all children from all forms of violence - obligations which all States in
the region have accepted, under key international human rights
instruments. "We are not talking about doing favours to children, but
about fulfilling the promises that States have made to them and to all
citizens", said Peter Newell. In all states in the region, corporal punishment
remains lawful in the home. The law actually defends "moderate"
or "reasonable" beating of children. In most states, corporal punishment is
also lawful in schools, other institutions and penal systems for young
offenders.
Factors explaining violence against children:
- Socio-economic factors / poverty
- Deeply embedded patriarchal and hierarchical traditions
- Inferiority of girl children, in culture and interpretation of religion
- Emphasis on sanctity and privacy of the family
- Harmful cultural practices, especially towards girls (forced marriages,
honour killings)
The report then focuses on three themes:
- Gender related violence: the report recognises progress, but also notes
that "South Asia remains the most gender unequal and insensitive region
in the world". "The discrimination against girls begins even before birth and
continues throughout her life".
- Child sexual abuse and exploitation: this is the most hidden and under-
reported form of violence against children in South Asia. Families often
remain silent about the issue because it may damage their reputation and
honour.
- Physical and psychological punishment: there is still much adult denial
that this violent discipline constitutes violence. Here it is probably boys
who suffer the most severe physical violence. Furthermore, most children,
and in particular, young children are hit frequently. The study also
highlights the harmful effects of non-physical violence, such as humiliating
forms of punishment - name calling, taunts, belittling, threats, and so on.
Tomorrow, the group will be divided into three groups, as per the three
above themes, to look at the report and draw some recommendations that
can be applied to each country in the region.
The report is not yet available, however it will be made available on the
CRIN website - www.childrenandviolence.org - as and when it is available.
In the meantime, to read the concept paper for the report, go to:
http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=5590
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- CHILD PARTICIPATION: Children's Declaration at the Regional Consultation
[ISLAMABAD, 19 May 2005] - Children took the floor this morning to tell
their governments how violence affects them in their lives and what
governments must do to end it. 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
- Counselling and other support should be accessible in the community for
the children
- Forming Child Task Forces which will work on preventing child sexual
abuse
- Including 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".
To read the full Declaration, go to:
http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=5585
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- RESOURCES: Publications related to the Regional Consultation
The Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment has also produced a
report called "Ending Legalised Violence against Children", to be presented
at each Regional Consultation.
Visit: http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=5591
Visit:
http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/violence/ENDCORPchildren
southasiaFINALpdf.pdf [child-friendly summary]
Save the Children has produced a document entitled "Call for action"
advocacy messages and recommendations for the thematic issues of Child
Participation, Child Sexual Abuse, Physical and Humiliating Punishment and
Children in Conflict with the Law to be used for the UN Study in its regional
consultations, preparation of the report and follow-up actions.
Visit: http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=5592
Save the Children has also produced a Child Friendly text on Physical and
Humiliating Punishment called "What Save the Children thinks about
physical and humiliating punishment - Information for children and young
people".
Visit: http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoID=5593
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- CYBERSPACE: Report on Abuse and Exploitation via Virtual Settings
The UN Secretary-General's Study on Violence against children will organise
information according to locations or sites at which children are subjected
to (or at risk of being subjected to) physical and psychological harm.
Locales identified include the home, the family, the street, the school,
institutions and the workplace. A critical site of violence, however, is
absent from this list: cyberspace. Cyberspace is regarded as the so-called
virtual world provided by the Internet, the World Wide Web and other
forms of computer networks and systems.
In the countries of South Asia, the means and extent of violence against
children and young people within and via cyberspace and various new
technologies is not fully known or understood. But reports of such
violations are increasing. This is as Internet and mobile phone connectivity
in the region expands rapidly. In Pakistan, for example, just 1,5 million
people use the Internet, yet this is an increase of more than 1000 per cent
in five years. And the growth in connectivity will encompass very large
populations in the future. Consider India, where the almost 40 million
people who log into cyberspace now represent not even four per cent of
the country's population.
Amid the shift to a new information society, the nexus between abuse and
exploitation of children and the use of new technologies to facilitate such
crimes is becoming more apparent. Child sex tourism is a case in point.
Foreigners are known sometimes to contact children and young people in
cyberspace in order to try to arrange real-world meetings, as occurred in
the case of a British man who sought out children in Sri Lanka via the
Internet and was subsequently prosecuted in Britain. Reports from Goa
and Kerala in India indicate that abuse-intent visitors also employ the
Internet to ascertain the situation regarding local laws and the availability
of children for sex.
In Nepal, almost all child respondents in focus group discussions about
child sex tourism reported having been photographed nude by a tourist at
some stage; 81 per cent said they had been shown pornographic materials
by tourists. It was unclear whether the children understood that there was
a possibility that photos might be posted online or otherwise
disseminated. Meanwhile, evidence for locally organised abuse of children
in the making and distribution of images of child sex emerges in interviews
conducted for a study by India's national Human Rights Commission
(NCHRC), where people traffickers admitted forcing children, in particular
teenage girls to make pornography. It might be reasonable to presume
that profits are sought by distributing the materials widely, and thus via
the World Wide Web and/or through video sales at local markets.
As evidence of victimisation of children within cyberspace and through the
use of new technologies becomes more apparent across South Asia, there
appears to be limited recognition of the very real and serious physical and
psychological harm done to children and young people when they are
abused within and via virtual settings. This is clear, for example, in the
failure of national laws to define child pornography specifically and to
provide provisions that treat its production, dissemination and possession
as criminal violations of the rights of the child.
This forms part of an ECPAT Concept paper, to be published shortly.
For more information, contact:
ECPAT - International Secretariat
328 Phaya Thai Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel: + 662 215 3388; Fax: + 662 215 8272
Email: ecpat@ecpat.net
Website: http://www.ecpat.net
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