Abused children, you’re not alone [Archives:2007/1063/Reportage]

archive
June 28 2007

By: Nisreen Shadad
and Mariam Al-Yemeni

With a song, Yemeni children welcomed the activists, ministers and representatives of national and international NGOs from many regions who were interested in children's rights at the second Arab ISPCAN (International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect) Regional Conference.

The words of their song reminded attendees about the miserable lives of children. Due to technical difficulties, the microphone they were using was unable to convey the tone, so attendees enthusiastically began clapping as if to say, “You're not alone. We are the substitution for the tone to convey your voice and produce an effect around the world.”

Organized by Yemen's Higher Council for Motherhood and Childhood, ISPCAN and the Arab Professionals Network for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, this second regional conference was held June 18-20 in Sana'a to highlight the theme: “Let us work together to protect children in the Arab world.”

The main goal was to cast light on the reality of violence against children in the Arab world and propose evidence-based prevention and intervention measures directed toward policy makers, professionals, local communities, families and children.

“The international society is very supportive and works together closely because this is a global issue. We hope to increase partnership through Yemen and the Arab region,” noted the executive director of the International Association to Protect Children from Abuse.

On the third and final day of the conference, the approximately 400 participants came up with 23 recommendations to protect children from neglect, abuse and violence.

UNICEF representative Aboudou Karimou Adjibade declared that violence is never justifiable and that the conference was an opportunity to share knowledge and experience in order to create a strong network.

The conference also discussed violations of children's rights in Palestine, as Palestinian children face all types of abuse and harassment. “They are killed and abused and have no rights because of their Israeli oppressors,” maintained Lubna Qadomi of the Jordan River Foundation.

Explaining the foundation's child protection programs, she said, “Queen Rania Al-Abdullah headed the foundation in 1995. The program has many principles to work toward, all intended to protect children from any type of abuse.”

Family, the first school for children

Numerous activists in this field shed light on the family's role in protecting children from violence. Egyptian actor and regional UNICEF goodwill ambassador Mahmoud Qabeel said, “Violence is widespread nowadays, particularly in the Middle East. I think the source creating such violence is the core of society – the family. Between 130 million and 275 million children annually are subject to family violence.”

Sumaya Al-Alfi, director of Street Children in Egypt, agreed with Qabeel, saying, “We need more awareness about children's rights within society, as well as cultivation of the family, fathers and mothers. Parents must understand children's language. Awareness of children's needs and rights also is essential in schools because children spend a lot of time there.”

She added, “You can imagine the future of our nations when you look at children.”

This second conference's goals and objectives were a focused continuum of the first and based on its recommendation and in complete harmony with a U.N. study on violence against children, its outcomes also are expected to serve the U.N. study's MENA regional consultation.

Engaging a wide range of children's rights activist in networks across the region, this regional network undertook the responsibility to hold this next ISPCAN conference, as well as other activities involving professional training and exchanging knowledge.

International experts gathered again June 25-27 to review the status of implementing the global study's recommendations.

Children and crime

The main factor increasing crime in society is neglect and abuse of children, who actually are the future leaders. As a result of abuse and violence, children are directed toward becoming drug addicts, stealing and applying the violence they faced as children toward society, according to Hayat Azmi of the Christian Youth Association in Aswan, Egypt.

“An essential component in the success of any program is public awareness of its importance, particularly this issue. All of society has an effect upon children; therefore, all parts of society must be aware and interact with our programs” she added.

Child trafficking is a new phenomenon in Yemen, having begun nearly five years ago, and closely related to poverty. While the poor exist in numerous Yemeni governorates, the highest numbers are in Taiz, Ibb, Sana'a and Hodeidah governorates, according to Deputy Social Affairs Minister Ali Saleh Abdullah. Three reports by the Ministry of Planning indicate that child trafficking has decreased by 5 percent.

“What makes our program successful is establishing a common plan of action between us and Saudi Arabia, since most children are smuggled into Saudi Arabia,” he noted.

Sexual abuse is another form of abuse children face worldwide, but they sometimes aren't aware about it. Maisoon, a pediatrician from Bahrain, confirmed the importance of children understanding sexual abuse, with such information needing to be according to their age, as well as their culture. “We want to keep our children innocent, but the world around them is not innocent.”

She related numerous stories that occurred while she was working out of her home. “A little girl came to me and she was at maturation. We discovered that her mother's husband had sex with her when she was nine years old. The little girl didn't know such a thing would cause her to become pregnant.”

A fellow attendee, a doctor in Switzerland, agreed with Maisoon about children's unawareness about what has happened to them.

The first Arab ISPCAN Regional Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect was held in Jordan in 2004 under the patronage of Queen Rania as a result of joint efforts between international and Jordanian organizations. The majority of Arab countries participated in that event, whose theme was, “Violence against children: Breaking the silence trengthening responses.”

How children understand their rights

One attendee suggested finding a good mechanism to present children's rights and how parents should deal with them. “A girl came on the first day of the conference with her mother, who told her, 'Tomorrow you must go to your studies. It's enough to attend today; otherwise, you'll miss many lessons.' Her daughter protested, saying, 'You abuse me.'”

Amear Al-Muraisi, a 10th-grader and decision maker in Yemen's 39-member Child Parliament, explained, “We discuss children's abuses in the Parliament and depending on the issue, we then call on those in charge of children's rights to help us. While some responsible parties really interact with us, there are still many obstacles to granting Yemeni children their rights.”

One child protested at the conference about society's view of youths, alleging, “Elders consider us naive and stupid when we express our thoughts and feelings. Instead, why don't they make us feel confident and proud of ourselves?”
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[archive-e:1063-v:15-y:2007-d:2007-06-28-p:report]