Children

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched the second part of its multi-phase campaign to detect and treat widespread malnutrition in Togolese children. The agency is now targeting dozens of more isolated villages in the Savanes and Kara regions in the north of the West African country and the Maritime region in the far south after earlier reaching bigger population centers, according to a statement released by UNICEF June 15. (UN News Service)

Students and teachers clashed with police in Chile on June 18 to protest an education bill they say doesn’t go far enough to bring equal access to schooling for the poor even with a government flush with copper dollars. About a thousand students marched shoulder to shoulder in the nation’s capital, confronting police with tear gas and water canon in the upscale Providencia neighborhood. In Valparaiso, the port town where the national Congress is debating the controversial legislation, 10,000 teachers marched in peaceful demonstrations. (Reuters)

Chinese police have detained a retired teacher on subversion charges after she decried the state of many schools buildings that toppled during last month’s devastating earthquake, the Information Center for Human Rights said on June 18. The Hong Kong-based human rights group said police in southwest China’s Sichuan province detained Zeng Hongling for “inciting subversion” after she wrote essays arguing that corruption made a mockery of school building standards. The more than 70,000 people killed in the May 12 quake included thousands of children crushed in schools, which often collapsed even as nearby buildings stayed upright. (Reuters)

A Dutch court began hearings June 18 about whether survivors of a 1995 massacre of Muslims in Bosnia, Europe’s worst mass killing since World War II, can sue the UN for failing to prevent the slaughter. Serb forces killed more than 8,000 Muslims in one week in July 1995, overrunning the Srebrenica enclave declared a UN safe zone. Dutch peacekeepers overwhelmed by the Serbs’ superior force watched helplessly as the male victims were led away from their custody for execution. The Mothers of Srebrenica, survivors of the men and boys killed in 1995, are among those seeking compensation from the UN and the Dutch state in the civil lawsuit. (AP/MSNBC)

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said it is scaling up its emergency operation in Iraq to address the basic needs of more than 360,000 vulnerable children inside the strife-torn nation. After five years of conflict, more than 800,000 Iraqi children are unable to go to school and only 40 per cent can access safe water, according to the agency. Through its Immediate Action for Vulnerable Children and Family - or IMPACT program - UNICEF is aiming to assist over 360,000 children this year and ensure they have access to health care and are protected against malnutrition. (UN News Service)

The work of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is no longer going to be only about delivering food, the former “food aid agency” announced in its new strategy for the next three years (2008-2011); it would now bill itself as a “food assistance agency”. Oxfam’s Mousseau cautioned that while his agency “welcomed” the new range of objectives and activities, “We think this new plan should not necessarily translate into more activities for WFP but rather better quality and effectiveness of WFP’s work. (IRIN)

No one would venture to say that there is ever a good place to be a refugee, however conditions do vary greatly, and in many country’s life as a refugee gives one little hope for the future.

According to a recent survey, The Worst Places for Refugees, conducted by the advocacy group US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)

Those countries listed as worst refugee abusers included are; China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Iraq, Kenya, Russia, Sudan and the continent of Europe where ranked as the 10 worst places for refugees.  All of those among the top-10 are seen as the worst violators of refugees’ rights, as the USCRI list was compiled basing the rankings on the levels of refugee rejections, persecution and deaths, or letting them enter into a country and subjecting them to deprivation and keeping them in an indefinate limbo.

Of the situation USCRI president Lavinia Limon said:

“We’ve tried to call attention to these countries because they have been particularly egregious in their treatment of refugees. Some of them have forced refugees back into dangerous situations, some of them have warehoused refugees in camps for decades, and some of them have done their best to make sure refugees never enter their territory. Some of them have done all of the above.”

Currently there are more than 60 countries which have substantial refugee populations, Pakistan has the worlds largest refugee population. 

In London, on June 17th, thousands gathered in Trafalgar Square, including schoolchildren, to taste what life in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region was like. The event followed UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres early kick off to World Refugee Day celebrations. Following a tour of the mock refugee camp, Guterres announced the results of the annual Global Trends report, which showed that the number of refugees under UNHCR’s responsibility had risen in 2007 for the second year in a row to 11.4 million, while the overall number of people of concern to the agency stood at 31.7 million. He said the rise in refugee numbers was of great concern (UNHCR).

World Refugee Day was officially held worldwide today, June 2oth, this years theme is Protection. Millions of refugees around the world live with out the fundamental right to the protection from violence and persecution. World Refugee Day looks to bring attention to those who have been forced from their homes to seek protection, and bring attention to their plight to receive even the most basic necessities such as; shelter, water, food and basic healthcare.

Most refugees are women, children and elderly, and over half of all refugees are children. The millions of child refugees, face the daily turmoils so few of us can imagine, as the violence and struggles that led children into a life as a refugee are only the beginning of their hardship. The rights and special protection needs of refugee children are frequently neglected, and children often face additional abuses in the camps. Life of a refugee is never easy, but it is woman and children who suffer the disparaging effects of displacement around the world. A window into this world can be see in Oxfam’s Alun McDonald’s interview; A day in the life of a 12-year-old in a Darfur camp.

How can you help? Join the efforts to help refugee children by supporting NineMillion, a campaign created in 2006 by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in partnership with Nike and Microsoft. The goal of the campaign is to give more than nine million children better access to education, sport and technology by 2010.

For more information on Refugee situations see the following links and current news articles:

“We call a child’s mind “small” simply by habit; perhaps it is larger than ours is, for it can take in almost anything without effort” - Christopher Morley

So often we over shadow our children, and fail to hear their thoughts and perspectives. By looking at a child as small minded serves only to underestimate their knowledge and their contribution to the development of our future. Children can truelly take in ‘almost anything without effort’, and thus we must not only work to see that we do not discount their contributions and abilities, but also see that the wealth of knowledge and information that we give children is what will best lead them towards a bright and peaceful future.

Some 84 juvenile offenders in Iran currently await execution, however the true number may be much higher. Iran remains one of the only countries in the world which continues to execute children, all in violation of its commitments to international treaties, such as Under Article 37(a) of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, child executions are a clear violation of international law, which bans the practice. You can see further details regarding Iranian law, and past cases, in my previous post Child Executions in Iran Continue Despite Violation of International Law.

Despite the laws on June 10th, a teenager by the name of Mohammad Hassanzadeh was hanged. The execution has brought forward international condemnation, such as that of the Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the execution of Mohammad Hassanzadeh.While Hassanzadeh’s execution took place another teen put on death row, Mohammad Feda’i, now has a glimmer of hope as his execution has been postponed for another month. Feda’i has been on Iran’s death row since he was 17 years old, following a trial for which he was not given adequate representation. Feda’i’s confession was also laden with allegations of a torture. While Feda’i awaits his fate, others await their schedualed execution dates.

You can take action for Feda’i and other juvenile offenders, here. For further information on child executions in Iran please see Stop Child Executions; Minors on Death Row in Iran.

In Eastern Burma the atrocities against ethnic minorities has continued, according to a recent report by the Free Burma Rangers. The government has continued it’s campaign against civilians as attacks on Karen villages have caused more than 1,000 civilians to flee their homes.

In a report, “Crimes Against Humanity In Eastern Myanmar.”, issued by Amnesty International, increasing cases of crimes against humanity are gravely documented. According to the report, more than 140,000 were victimized at the hand of the Burmese government. Assaults and abuses against the countries minority population include rape, murder and forced labor.

Please also see various reports issued by Human Rights Watch on Burma here. For further information see my previous posts The Increase of Child Soldiers in Myanmar and The Children of Burma/Myanmar

Since 1991, every June 16th mark the day of the African Child, and is honored world wide. This year the Day is dedicated to the right of the African child to participate, particularly to be seen and heard. Today marks “The day of the African Child,” which this year is dedicated to the Right to Participate: Let Children be Seen and Heard. The visibility of children is often taken for granted in even the most democratic state, however in many nations of Africa children have become largely invisible in all aspects, despite the high instances of abuse, violence, poverty, gender inequality and low literacy rates.
UNICEF is working to highlight the importance of child participation participation in schools, community action, media, and governance, highlighting in particular the importance of the 4th Junior 8 Summit. The Junior 8 Summit which will occur next month in Japan, gives youth from around the world an opportunity to share their views directly with world leaders gathered for the G8.

Young people’s voices must be heard, UN officials stress on Day of African Child, especially in Sudan;

“Every year, the Day of the African Child reminds adults of the importance to include children in the planning and decision making processes in Sudan,” UNICEF Country Representative Ted Chaiban said, calling for greater efforts to listen to the voices of children and to protect them from harm. “With an estimated 20 million Sudanese under the age of 18 – half of the population – it is vital that the views and aspirations of this generation form a central pillar in the recovery and development of Sudan, and that these children can live in an environment free of fear,” he added.

Children across the continent of Africa remain silenced by their denial to participate in the building and reconstruction of their countries and have an active role in democratic participation. Those children who face violence in the many conflict ridden states, are most often denied, or have limited access to legal support, as well as medical, physiological care, and education. Thus while children remain the highest population of those effected and victimized by conflict they have the smallest voice, which not only impedes their own recovery, but the adequate and sustainable building of the community and country on the whole.

Children who are accused of violating criminal codes and laws are often not given a fair trail, but dealt with informally by the local police. This denies a child access to a fair trial and thus often leads to inappropriate action and often abuse. Often a child’s access to fair trial or other various forms of participation are denied simply due to a lack of resources and knowledge, which therefore must be addressed by both the state and the international community to see that children are not marginalized. This is especially crucial for those who are victims of gender based violence, including rape as a weapon of war; as well as for those children who are being reintegrated following conflict, such as child soldiers.

UNICEF and other NGO’s working towards participation have a lot of work on their hands, however they are off to a good start. What one needs to see done to ensure that children across Africa are both seen and heard is to: increase resources and programs to all organizations working with children; work to end corruption and impunity of such violent crimes committed against children; establish child specific training programs for all personnel working with children; establish judicial systems designed to protect the violation against children’s fundamental rights.

For more information on the legal framework regarding child participation see Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which includes the right of the child to be heard and have his or her view given consideration in all judicial and administrative proceeding affecting him or her. For further information please see the African Charter on the Right and Welfare of the Child, for which article 4 states, how is in the best interest of the child and thus provides for the right of the African child to have his or her view considered in all proceedings affecting him or her.



For more information and news please see:

On the day of the African Child, UNICEF in Sudan calls for children to be heard and better protected

Rwanda leading Africa in Promoting Children’s Participation

Malawi’s Youth Parliament convenes in run-up to Day of the African Child

Waging Peace, a British NGO, issued a report stating that between 7,000 and 10,000 Darfurian children abducted from refugee camps in Chad are serving as child soldiers. Please also see my other posts on Child Soldiers. The report comes right after the earlier report this month on the Release of Child Soldiers in Chad.  Please  also see my other posts such as, Despite Increased Aid Efforts We Are Still Failing the Children of Darfur

In other news on the situation Darfur international negotiators have called the prospects for new peace negotiations about Darfur “dim.” In an effort to revive the peace process, the UN and AU are working to appoint a joint mediator, which would replace the current negotiators. All of this comes right as the Sudanese government stated its readiness for a ceasefire and peace negotiations, so long as JEM is banned from participating. The JEM and SLM movements currently reject the idea of peace talks, while the SLM-Unity movement stated its intention to launch attacks on Khartoum. Additionally the civil war between the Northern and Southern regions of Sudan was nearly reignited due to a boundary dispute in the Abyei region. The dispute has left many of the residents of Abyei displaced and the town nearly destroyed.

It is painfully clear that the situations in both Sudan and Chad will not come to a clear peaceful resolution soon, and that the children will continue to be swept up in the ciaos until  a true peace can be found and stability finds its way to the region.

“They torched our house, they burnt our livestock, I have nothing left and don’t know where to start.”, said 22 year old Precious, a mother of a six-month-old baby (Telegraph).

According to UNICEF the continued violence is damaging Zimbabwe’s children and the grip it has on the countries children fears to only be tightening. Just last week the government run by President Mugabe’s ordered that all international aid groups and NGOs to stop their field work. On June 4th all aid agencies where ordered to stop all work, as they have been accused of working against Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party. The blocking of aid comes as the country is preparing for the presidential run-off election on June 27th.

Violence in the country arose after the the March 29th presidential elections, when Robert Mugabe was challenged by Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU-PF), lost the majority in parliament for the first time since the country’s independence in 1980.

Children not spared post-election violence, as children and their families have been displaced from their homes, some 10,000 or more according to UNICEF. Children have been forced out of schools and worse children have been wounded and killed amid the violence and ciaos. Many, especially women and children, have fled to South Africa, such as the woman and child pictured to the right (NY Times).

“The net effect is as many as 500,000 children are now not receiving the health care, HIV/AIDS support, education assistance and food that they require. Many of these children are orphans,” UNICEF said in a statement this past week. As concerns about the children of Zimbabwe’s future rise, UNICEF’s Regional Director for Eastern & Southern Africa, Mr. Per Engebak, said:

“This appalling violence damages children, their potential, and Zimbabwe as a whole. It must stop and it must stop now. All authorities have a legal obligation to protect children; and as a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child there is an international obligation.”

However some 400 AIDS service NGOs allowed to resume operations, nonetheless the news has left many weary and many others wondering if international aid will be allowed in. For now the children of Zimbabwe continue to suffer amid the reigning madness of Mugabe’s hold on the country and the violence that continues to show Zimbabwe’s fragility.


Please see my esteemed colleague Derek Catsam’s posts on the FPA Africa blog and his posts on Zimbabwe for more information on the current situation.

United Nations officials, government leaders and education experts are gathering in Kathmandu, Nepal, June 11 for the start of a two-day conference examining how to improve gender equality in schools across the Asia-Pacific region. The meeting has been set up by the Global Advisory Committee of the UN Girls Education Initiative (UNGEI) to measure the progress so far to boost girls’ access to schooling, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

UN crisis officials are working with local authorities in Belize to coordinate relief efforts in the wake of flooding across the Central American country caused by the first storm of the annual Atlantic hurricane season. Staff from the UN Development Program (UNDP), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have been providing logistical and technical support over the past week to authorities, according to a UNDP news release issued June 9. (UN News Service)

Canada is to apologize for forcing more than 100,000 aboriginal children to attend state-funded Christian boarding schools aimed at assimilating them. Prime Minister Stephen Harper will make the apology in parliament in Ottawa, in front of hundreds of ex-schoolchildren. The schools operated from the late 19th Century until the 1990s, although most of them shut in the 1970s. Accounts of physical and sexual abuse at the institutions, known as residential schools, have also emerged. The churches that ran the schools apologized in the 1980s and 1990s. (BBC)

An investigation by the Spanish Ombudsman has revealed serious shortcomings in two Canary Islands emergency care centers housing up to 200 unaccompanied migrant children, Human Rights Watch said June 9. The Spanish Ombudsman’s office launched an independent investigation in September 2007, triggered by the HRW “Unwelcome Responsibilities: Spain’s Failure to Protect the Rights of Unaccompanied Migrant Children in the Canary Islands”. This report documents serious human rights violations against several hundred unaccompanied migrant children housed in emergency care centers on the islands. The conclusions of the Ombudsman’s investigation have now been made public. (HRW)

Families in southern Ethiopia are relying on government shipments of food and water due to a severe drought that has disrupted area crops. Officials say a spike in global food prices is exacerbating the situation, leaving up to 4.5 million Ethiopians in need of assistance. IRINNews.org

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is spearheading a family planning campaign to help solve the country’s food insecurity. Since the early 1980s, the country’s population has nearly doubled, with many Egyptians looking to children as a source of financial well-being. The Washington Post