3811 The Drum Beat, Issue 517 – Child Rights Communication

The Drum Beat – Issue 517 – Child Rights Communication
November 9 2009

This issue includes:

* CONTEXT: The CRC and child rights.
* Previously published E-NEWSLETTERS related to child rights.
* GLOBAL ACTION for children’s rights.
* VOTE in a poll on pressing problems for marginalised girls.
* Engaging children in LOCAL rights-related initiatives.
* Selected children’s rights RESOURCES.

From The Communication Initiative Network – where communication and media are central to social and economic development.

Subscribe to The Drum Beat: http://www.comminit.com/en/user/register
Access this issue online at http://www.comminit.com/en/drum_beat_517.html

Drum Beat Subscribers: 44,770
CI Portal User Sessions, past 12 months: 3,032,758

November 19 2009 is the 20th anniversary of the Convention Rights of the Child (CRC), which world leaders articulated in order to respect, promote, and fulfill the civil, cultural, economic, political, and social rights of children everywhere. It is also the mark of the annual World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse.

The Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) has posted links to ideas and resources for celebrating the 20th anniversary of the CRC. To access them, see: http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?m=09d1bd38fde144bfec7b7d5573874ab7

Inspired by this global focus on children’s rights, this issue of The Drum Beat highlights selected communication-oriented campaigns, strategies, and resources that showcase the diverse ways in which people of all ages are taking action to break the silence around sexual and other types of exploitation, to amplify children’s voices, and to advocate that their presence and participation be rightfully respected.

CONTEXT: RELEVANT RESEARCH

1.      Television, Advertising, The Internet: What Is the Influence on Our Children?
This report documents the Women’s World Summit Foundation (WWSF)’s 2007 annual World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse conference in Geneva, Switzerland, to review progress in preventing child abuse, with a focus on protecting children from violence in the media. WWSF’s Executive Director opened the dialogue by providing some context: «[M]ore than one million images of children being sexually abused are posted on the Internet, more than 50% of the United Nations Member States in 138 countries do not have legal protection for children portrayed in pornography, and possession of pornographic material involving children is not a crime.»
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/280949

2.      Because I am a Girl: The State of the World’s Girls 2009
Girls in the Global Economy: Adding It All Up
This annual series of reports, which looks thematically at the state of the world’s girls, began in 2007 and will run until 2015. The 2009 report explores the obstacles girls will need to overcome to become active and equal economic citizens. The core argument is that economic empowerment for girls and young women is about their capacity to make strategic life choices: choices about going to school, getting a job, learning a skill, spending disposable income, investing their savings, and/or purchasing assets.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/303917

3.      A Study on Violence Against Girls in Primary Schools and its Impacts on Girls’ Education in Ethiopia
Published in May 2008 by Save the Children Denmark, this study finds that violence and abuse against children, particularly girls, seem to be widespread in Ethiopia. According to the report, the types of violence and abuse can roughly be divided into traditional forms of violence – such as abductions, early and forced marriage, and female genital mutilation – and acts of violence that are not based on traditional norms and values. The majority of the girls said that the various types of violence and abuse against schoolgirls negatively affected their regular school attendance, leading to an increased rate of absenteeism. The study also shows that the various types of violence and abuse have a negative impact on schoolgirls’ ability to concentrate in class, which in turn has an impact on their class participation and performance. Communication-specific recommendations are included to close the report.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/279449

4.      New Insights on Preventing Child Marriage: A Global Analysis of Factors and Programs
by Saranga Jain and Kathleen Kurz
From the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), this April 2007 document was compiled to analyse the risk and protective factors associated with child marriage, as well as the range of existing programmes addressing child marriage, and what does and does not work in preventing early marriage. Potential risk and protective factors for child marriage were analysed for the 20 countries with the highest child marriage prevalence. One recommendation to emerge was that behaviour change communication (BCC) and community mobilisation, which can foster community discussion, should be promoted and employed to both understand and change the social norms that perpetuate child marriage.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/303798

5.      Human Trafficking in Mozambique: Root Causes and Recommendations
by Elize Delport
This policy paper is based on a United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) research study exploring the problem of human trafficking in Mozambique and detailing a number of awareness-raising activities developed to address it. For example, information and promotional materials with key messages about child trafficking were produced and distributed to over 10,000 members of the public. The report states that the engagement of children in this campaign was crucial; they marched in border areas in protest against trafficking and were able to engage widely in discussions on their perception of trafficking and the learned self-protection mechanisms.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/271536

See Also:

* Tanzanian Children’s Perceptions of Education and Their Role in Society: Views of the Children 2007
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/275106

See also these closely related, previously published issues of The Drum Beat and The Soul Beat:

The Drum Beat 442 – Rights of Young Children
http://www.comminit.com/en/drum_beat_442.html

The Drum Beat 365 – Human Trafficking
http://www.comminit.com/en/drum_beat_365.html

The Drum Beat 198 – Child Protection
http://www.comminit.com/en/drum_beat_198.html

The Soul Beat 89 – Protecting Africa’s Children
http://www.comminit.com/en/africa/soul-beat-89.html

The Soul Beat 24 – Street Children
http://www.comminit.com/en/africa/soul-beat-24.html

GLOBAL CHILD RIGHTS ACTION

6.      World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse – Global
Launched in 2000 and commemorated every November 19, this is an annual global awareness campaign to create a culture of prevention of child abuse. An international coalition was established in 2001 with the aim of increasing existing programming and developing new prevention measures. The coalition, headed by the Women’s World Summit Foundation (WWSF), unites over 930 governmental and non-governmental organisations in more than 135 countries, all of which now mark November 19 with local and national activities and events. Each year, the WWSF reviews coalition members’ activity reports from the field as they mark the World Day; they select 4 for innovative prevention activities in the field of prevention of child abuse.
Contact: wdpca@wwsf.ch OR wwsf@wwsf.ch
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/119680/303

7.      World Day against Child Labour Awareness Campaign – Israel
In honour of the World Day against Child Labour (June 12) 2007, the Nazareth, Israel-based organisations Sawt el-Amel: The Laborer’s Voice and Arab Association for Human Rights (HRA) launched a campaign to raise awareness about economic exploitation of children and the most problematic forms of child labour. Campaign activities drew on a variety of strategies to raise awareness about children’s rights, and included: the creation and distribution of printed materials; the provision of information via in-person sessions, such as lectures in secondary schools; community mobilisation in the form of community action days in towns and villages, with an emphasis on engaging children aged 5-12 in an activity day which was specifically focused on the child’s right to engage in play (as opposed to his/her economic exploitation as a child labourer); and public screening of films dealing with child labour around the world.
Contact: laborers@laborers-voice.org OR laborer@netvision.net.il
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/135320

8.      STOP IT NOW! Campaign – United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US)
This campaign was designed to encourage adults to take responsibility to end the sexual abuse of children. A pilot project in Vermont and follow-up efforts in various locations in the UK and US have focused on increasing public awareness of child sexual abuse, challenging abusers to stop their abuse immediately and seek treatment, changing attitudes about what can be done to prevent abuse, and encouraging behaviours by adults to intervene in abuse situations or to act before the abuse occurs. A telephone hotline, printed materials, and a website are key strategies.
Contact: http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?m=1d0f36fd0bf84ad97b655e1a3a83ab5d
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/120540

9.      Stop the Silence: Talk Around the Clock – Help End Child Sexual Abuse – Global
This collaborative annual initiative, launched in 2008 on November 19, is an effort to help catalyse global action on child sexual abuse prevention and treatment during a 24-hour information and awareness raising marathon. Each year, organisers present the work that the public and others have contributed (via an online process). Celebrities are invited to offer their voices and opinions by uploading video clips or monologues about a story, history, experience, or perspective related to child sexual abuse – to be aired throughout the annual marathon.
Contact: Pamela Pine ppine@stopcsa.org OR Jan Jordaan JanJ@dut.ac.za OR afh@dut.ac.za OR Tim Larose tlarose@helptheworldhelptheworld.com
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/278840/303

Please VOTE in our POLL:

What is the most persistent problem facing marginalised female children?

Problem:
* Lack of access to education.
* Lack of inheritance and ownership rights.
* Societal acceptance of sexual teasing and harassment.
* Forced customs related to sexuality: e.g., FGM, arranged marriage, involuntary prostitution.

VOTE and COMMENT at http://www.comminit.com/en/node/288613/303

RESULTS thus far (as of November 6):

53%: Lack of access to education.
28%: Forced customs related to sexuality: e.g., FGM, arranged marriage, involuntary prostitution.
10%: Lack of inheritance and ownership rights.
9%: Societal acceptance of sexual teasing and harassment.

LOCAL CHILD-CENTRED RIGHTS INITIATIVES

10.     Super Buddies – Swaziland
Super Buddies, a non-profit organisation working with children and youth between the ages of 5 and 25 years in Swaziland, involves a magazine, clubs, and radio programme designed to provide platforms where children and youth can share views on issues affecting them, model positive behaviour, and empower each other with life skills – as well as create awareness about children’s rights. For example, 15 members of the Super Buddies Club aged between 14 and 17 worked to write a script about how children’s rights are violated through sexual abuse, causing many to turn to a life on the streets and be exposed to the HIV virus. The youth performed the resulting play, «Anty, My Father Has Abused Me», at a child protection rally held in June 2009. More than 1,500 people attended the event, which was covered by the national paper. After the performance, discussions followed on child rights and responsibilities; one theme to emerge is that children themselves can play a major role in fi!
ghting abuse. «As Super Buddies, we have been taught that our role is to help our peers in difficult situations.»
Contact: Siphiwe Nkambule superbuddies@swazi.net
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/269911/347

11.     Queen Rania Family and Child Center (QRFCC) – Jordan
QRFCC was established in 2005 in the Jabal Al-Naser area to provide services and support to families who are at risk and to educate children on child abuse and child rights. For instance, QRFCC offers lectures addressing the basic concepts of child rights and protection; efforts are made in these sessions to create a common ground where all segments of the community and civil society organisations involved in child welfare can join forces. QRFCC’s work also engages children and adolescents directly in programmes that draw on participatory, creative, «edutainment» activities designed to raise awareness and build skills and self-confidence.
Contact: info@jrf.org.jo
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/134680/303

12.     Children in Distress Network (CINDI) – South Africa
This network works to provide support in sharing information, mobilising resources, and undertaking advocacy work on behalf of children affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa. CINDI’s Child Advocacy Project (CAP) works to ensure that children and their caregivers access relevant, user-friendly information in respect of their rights. CAP involves: conducting campaigns in relation to child rights and social security; establishing Community Advisory Centres in local communities; undertaking research into policy implementation gaps in KwaZulu-Natal and making recommendations to relevant tiers of government; analysing programmes implemented by CINDI members in the areas of housing, food security, education, and health; providing relevant capacity building for CINDI members and stakeholders; recording good practice; and developing a CINDI database and interactive website.
Contact: info@cindi.org.za
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/128705/303

13.     Tulir – Centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse (CPHCSA) – India
Through school-based curricula, training and consultancy, research and resource development, and advocacy and networking, the India-based Tulir-CPHCSA hopes to provide information, link individuals and organisations, and – ultimately – empower both children and adults in ensuring that the right of every child to feel safe is respected. It works toward this goal by organising public awareness and sensitisation programmes and campaigns, using strategies such as: joining with individuals and organisations; partnering with the media; and networking with different professional sectors, such as law enforcement, judiciary, health care, and education. The core of Tulir-CPHCSA’s work is child-based, and focuses on fostering children’s participation in their own protection against abuse.
Contact: tulircphcsa@yahoo.co.in
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/134560

14.     TunaHAKI (We Have a Right) Centre for Child Development – Tanzania
TunaHAKI (Swahili for «We Have a Right») is based on the belief that children have the right to a better life and to live in a nurturing environment. According to TunaHAKI, children who have spent time on the streets or live without adult care are vulnerable to extreme violations of their basic rights. To that end, the Centre provides children with shelter, food, clothing, medical care, and schooling, and also builds skills in the performing arts. The children are learning, among other things, to be aerialists, acrobats, and gymnasts, which the Centre says builds self-esteem, confidence, cooperation skills, and a sense of family that empowers abandoned children and gives them a sense of home.
Contact: info@tunahakichildren.org OR tunahakikids@yahoo.com OR info@tunahakicanada.org
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/294371

15.     Association Najdeh – Lebanon, Palestinian Territory
This Lebanese non-governmental organisation (NGO) works in and around the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. To mark the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse (2005), in Baddawi camp, Najdeh held a workshop on child abuse and violence against children; 75 children attended, shared their experiences, and wrote about violence and abuse. They also created drawings and addressed letters to themselves committing not to practice any act of violence or abuse. As part of this initiative, Najdeh created and distributed a paper badge with the message «No to child abuse!» in Arabic. An exhibition of the refugee children’s drawings and writings exposing the violence and abuse they have experienced ensued. A similar workshop was held in Ein El Helweh camp (Sidon City, South Lebanon), with 100 girls and boys (7-17 years). Here, children wore the badge, received information about child rights, and were invited to prepare short stories, drawings, sketches and songs on violence against !
children. The children were also shown a video on child abuse and drugs. A public exhibition highlighting the children’s stories and drawings, as well as the same video, was followed by a discussion.
Contact: association@najdeh.org.lb
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/134640/303

16.     Theatre for Life: Health Information, Community Mobilisation and Child Rights – A Qualitative Evaluation
by Alex Mavrocordatos
This December 2004 document presents a qualitative evaluation of the Theatre for Life (TFL) programme, which is part of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Sudan’s Child Friendly Community Initiative (CFCI). Children perform plays designed to deliver 10 key messages around child protection, education, and (more recently) child survival and child rights. The evaluation concludes that the TFL programme has the potential to be an exciting and fertile ground for cultural action that generates social change. In order to realise that potential, radical paradigm shifts in attitude and practice will need to be effected at all levels. Children should be at the heart of the creative process – once they feel themselves to be part of the process, they may become interested enough to take it on as their own.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/298188

See Also:

* Kids News Network (KNN) – Aruba, Burma / Myanmar, Indonesia, Mozambique, Netherlands Antilles, Peru, South Africa, Suriname, Zambia
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/281063

* Children’s Voices – Namibia
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/132115

CHILD RIGHTS RESOURCES

17.     Editorial Guidelines and Principles for Reporting on Children in the Media 2008: A Snapshot of Children in Zambian News
by Bob Steele
Published in December 2008, this guide is intended to create awareness on how the media should report on children, and provide journalists with the necessary information to enable children’s voices to become a part of daily media coverage, without violating children’s rights. It is also intended as a tool for editors, providing references to guidelines and laws that may be useful during the production of news related to children.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/284337/2754

18.     Semantics or Substance? Towards a Shared Understanding of Terminology Referring to the Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children
This January 2005 publication from the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child’s Subgroup Against Sexual Exploitation of Children aims to «highlight the confusion around» terms used in discussion of child abuse and exploitation. The authors argue that «analysis becomes almost impossible if different countries utilise different definitions for the same terms. Legislation can reflect large loopholes and protection gaps, while responses can suffer from a misunderstanding about prevalence, practice and perception.»
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/217288/303

19.     Prevention is Key! Let’s Make Prevention of Abuse and Violence against Children a Global Priority – WWSF Guide for NGO and Citizen Action
This handbook, published in September 2008, is designed to accelerate measures to prevent abuse and violence against children, worldwide. Based on WWSF’s conviction that «Efficient prevention presupposes both the active mobilization of all actors…as well as the active participation of children», the guide provides practical examples by category of abuse: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, exploitation (including commercial sexual exploitation), harmful traditional practices, and media violence. For each category, the reader will find a definition or introduction, facts, various suggestions for NGO and citizen action, and lobby points for governments.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/302564/303

This issue of The Drum Beat was written by Kier Olsen DeVries.

The Drum Beat is the email and web network of The Communication Initiative Partnership – ANDI, BBC World Service Trust, Bernard van Leer Foundation, Calandria, CFSC Consortium, CIDA, DFID, FAO, Fundación Nuevo Periodismo Iberoamericano, Ford Foundation, Healthlink Worldwide, Inter-American Development Bank, International Institute for Communication and Development, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs, MISA, PAHO, The Panos Institute, The Rockefeller Foundation, SAfAIDS, Sesame Workshop, Soul City, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNICEF, USAID, WHO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Chair of the Partners Group: Garth Japhet, Founder, Soul City garth@heartlines.org.za
Executive Director: Warren Feek wfeek@comminit.com

The Editor of The Drum Beat is Kier Olsen DeVries.

Please send material for The Drum Beat to The CI’s Editorial Director – Deborah Heimann dheimann@comminit.com

The Drum Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.