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Read Updates: DAY 1 / DAY 2 / DAY 3 / Statement to SRSG / Profiles young people / SRSG Statement
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As part of the youth forum on violence against children taking place in Accra from 30th August to 3rd September 2010, we asked children about their thoughts on the topic and their expectations of the forum.
Magnoudewa is 16 years old, from Sotouboua, in Togo. She raises awareness of violence against children through the theatre arts club she’s a member of.
“I got involved in the fight against violence because I noticed that in my community and virtually everywhere else in Togo, violence is being used more and more against children.
“My parents used to use force on me and my little brothers, sometimes we were hit. But since I’ve been involved in the fight, I’ve managed to convince them [that violence against children is wrong], and they’re more gentle with us.
“A lot of young people like me fight against violence. But on the other hand, some ignore everything and think that everything that happens to them is right because it’s accepted in their society.”
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Charfoundine, 17, is a member of the ‘Violence Against Children’ club in Sotouboua, and has been actively engaged in the fight against violence against children.
“For me, to use violence against someone is to harm them. It could be in a physical, psychological or moral way, and it goes against that person’s well-being.
“We have noticed that violence exists in our towns and it prevents children from developing to their full potential. I got involved in the fight against violence to allow children to develop and blossom.
“There’s a difference between me and other children in my community: I’ve had training all about violence and advocacy; they haven’t. I know about violence, but they don‘t. The important thing now is to make that difference worthwhile, to share what I know with the other children who haven’t had the training.”
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Thalès is 17 years old, and is the Secretary of the children’s committee in Couffo, and like all the other children attending, is looking forward to discussing with Marta Santos Pais during the conference.
“I got involved in the fight against violence against children because of all the violence that we children are victims of and in particular because some of us are unable to denounce this violence. How violence is seen varies from town to town, but whatever the type of violence, it prevents children from developing.
“Whilst the means that we use to fight violence are similar from one country to the next, we need to work together for the fight to be more successful.
pdf: http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoid=23117