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Sri Lanka • economic problems • access to and quality of education • a safe home environment • the effects of armed conflict • health A strong push by Save the Children to support children to advocate for themselves was successful. It led to provincial meetings of children and a children’s parliament where a children’s agenda was formed and presented to the Government. Notably, Save the Children reviewed its own programs in light of the children’s agenda, and plans to improve the monitoring of CRC criteria at community level, as the national approach is inevitably "distant". The problem of child abuse, for example, has been noted in the 1998 presidential taskforce reports but no clear idea is expressed as to how this links to monitoring in the community. Children’s organisations have identified local issues and advocated with local authorities. Save the Children has observed that some issues are sensitive in local communities when it impacts on profit or politics. For this reason, children need to be equipped through training in ways to protect themselves when advocating on an issue. Entry points to communities Increased child participation, and specific education approaches, are two ways to reduce the risks children face. There are others. World Vision’s work with community leaders on issues such as livelihood and credit also ensures community recognition and support for children to develop more of a voice through the Children’s Societies (see following section). Development experience in Sri Lanka shows that a twin process of developing community and children gives a stronger structure for Children’s Societies to act together across an area. Since microcredit addresses a key issue of poverty, it links well with child protection measures. The challenge of linkage is a critical one, as advocacy opportunities exist if data is shared and appropriate indicators set. World Vision’s study on child abuse and neglect 4 noted the importance of public awareness and coalition-building that grows from the needs in the community and does not over-sensationalise issues. The Sri Lankan conflict has constrained advocacy, in that comment on its negative impacts on child development as outlined in the CRC could put staff and projects at risk. For example, the LTTE communicated that they didn’t want NGOs to comment on their involvement of children in the armed conflict. (At the international level, however, there has been NGO pressure on the LTTE not to use children as soldiers.) At community level, nonetheless, there have been useful examples of children advocating locally on other issues of protection, and promoting change. Useful approaches to building child participation Examples of children working effectively to influence families, communities and government are clear in Sri Lanka. Promoting children through developing people’s organisations, establishing or strengthening children’s associations, and introducing a child rights curriculum in schools are examples of child protection in practice. Lessons may be learned from good practice in this area and applied to other areas, influence government policy/practice, and/or contribute to practice in other countries. 5 4 Dorning, K, Crying Out: Children and communities speak on abuse and neglect, World Vision International, 2002 (http://www.wvi.org/imagine/can.htm) 5 Implementation Handbook for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF, 1998 69
Sri Lanka Children’s play showing the effect of alcohol on a family: the drunken father tries to rouse his family who have taken poison to escape his beatings and the poverty caused by his addiction. Sri Lanka’s children have become agents of change on this issue of alcohol-induced violence in the home. Children’s Societies With the support of World Vision and with approval and recognition from local authorities, Children’s Societies (membership aged 7–15) have been established in 13 villages near Pottuvil, the main town of Amarai district. They have a membership of 1,400. A youth forum (membership aged 16–30) with 140 members covering eight villages has also been established. The club structure gives voice to children’s concerns in villages and strengthens their ability to take action. In one village where there have been high levels of alcoholism, the Children’s Society CRC materials (these ones produced by Save the Children) are used to promote awareness. Program planning that further emphasises the CRC could add impact to these activities. One community mobiliser requested further training in applying the CRC, linking children’s societies to income-earning options, and using games or sports with children. 6 The Pottuvil Children’s Society, with membership of 110 from one village, involved in a trust-building activity. Children’s societies provide a valuable link with the community and future leaders. Photos: Laurence Gray 6 Parbha, P, Home Truths: Domestic violence and its impact on women and children, Save the Children UK, 1999 70
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Risk Laurence Gray
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Copyright © 2003 by World Vision I
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contents Useful approaches to build
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executive summary responsibility of
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executive summary The Philippines I
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introduction “How is it possible
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introduction Child as a normative f
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introduction • offer opportunity
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introduction information may emerge
Page 19 and 20: introduction Current challenges of
Page 21 and 22: introduction Planning long-term for
Page 23 and 24: introduction Because we are abandon
Page 25 and 26: Cambodia or a medical emergency. Ho
Page 27 and 28: Cambodia This drawing by a child sc
Page 29 and 30: Cambodia near the garbage dump have
Page 31 and 32: Cambodia The Mith Samlanh/Friends v
Page 33 and 34: Cambodia Mith Samlanh/Friends vocat
Page 35 and 36: Cambodia To further understand how
Page 37 and 38: Cambodia Responses were gained thro
Page 39 and 40: Cambodia LICADHO uses a variety of
Page 41 and 42: Cambodia Families are taught to dis
Page 43 and 44: Cambodia The Law Enforcement Agains
Page 45 and 46: Cambodia 3. The project was based o
Page 47 and 48: Indonesia • The BPS also estimate
Page 49 and 50: Indonesia For Children’s Day in J
Page 51 and 52: Indonesia Useful approaches to buil
Page 53 and 54: Indonesia Child protection concerns
Page 55 and 56: Indonesia Children in the IDP camp,
Page 57 and 58: Indonesia building strategies can b
Page 59 and 60: The Philippines • children who ar
Page 61 and 62: The Philippines • conducting a ra
Page 63 and 64: The Philippines increase opportunit
Page 65 and 66: The Philippines Barriers to child p
Page 67 and 68: Sri Lanka Children affected by conf
Page 69: Sri Lanka Partnership for education
Page 73 and 74: Sri Lanka Impact of the project Som
Page 75 and 76: Sri Lanka “I spoke to a group of
Page 77 and 78: Vietnam Background Community-based
Page 79 and 80: Vietnam • At the community level,
Page 81 and 82: Vietnam “States Parties recognise
Page 83 and 84: Vietnam “Talk is cheap. Action is
Page 85 and 86: conclusion Agencies within civil so
Page 87 and 88: ecommendations universities. Advoca
Page 89 and 90: ecommendations • Emerging issues,
Page 91 and 92: acknowledgements Many individuals a
Page 93 and 94: ibliography Amnesty International,
Page 95 and 96: appendix 1 Online toolkit The follo
Page 97: appendix 3 Some principles of World
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