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WEST AFRICA CHILDREN AND YOUTH NETWORK FORUM WITH THE UN SRSG MARTA SANTOS PAIS
DAY ONE SUMMARY
On Tuesday, 31 August 2010, the Ghanaian capitol Accra welcomed 80 girls and boys from 14 countries from across West Africa and beyond, involved in a regional initiative to raise awareness on and take actions against violence against children. The highlight of this gathering, supported by seven international NGOs, is visit by Marta Santos Pais, the UN Special Representative on Violence against Children, who is on her official mission to the Region and is taking the opportunity to interact with children and listen to their opinions and suggestions on ways and means to address causes and consequences of abuse and harm that is affecting lives of millions of children around the Region on a daily basis.
The first working day of the Forum (Wednesday, 01 September) kicked off with an interactive session on gender based violence. Children and youth explored various aspects and root-causes of this form of violence affecting particularly girls in many different ways. Young participants identified lack of access to education for girls, poverty and economic hardships, social norms traditionally favouring boys and subservient position of women in the society as some of the major causes perpetuating gender inequalities and related forms of harmful practices including early forced marriages, FGM, commercial sexual exploitation, to name but a few. Through role- plays and plenary discussion, numerous ways were identified for children and young people to take actions and advocate towards effective prevention and ending of this specific form of violence.
Later in the day, the Forum offered its precious contribution to a series of regional consultation focusing on finalization of the General Comment to the CRC Article 19. Girls and boys from West Africa shared their specific insights and inputs into the ongoing debate on mandatory reporting mechanisms and related legal frameworks. Furthermore, they were engaged in shaping the way forward in visioning a broader child protection framework that links child protection to all other aspects of childhood necessary for unlocking full potentials and ensuring full development and growth. They’ve explored obstacles and solutions along the way and further specified how this emerging General Comment could be made well-known and acted upon on a daily basis.
More information
Read Updates: DAY 1 / DAY 2 / DAY 3 / Statement to SRSG / Profiles young people / SRSG Statement
pdf: http://www.crin.org/violence/search/closeup.asp?infoid=23117