children and young people report to the UN on their rights - Nova

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were not allowed <strong>to</strong> decide anything, while o<strong>the</strong>rs said <strong>the</strong>y were allowed <strong>to</strong>decide whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>to</strong> play football or jump on <strong>the</strong> trampoline <strong>and</strong> that <strong>the</strong>ydecided over <strong>the</strong>ir desk. "I decide over my body, because mummy says so."In <strong>the</strong> group comprising unaccompanied minor refugees one respondentsaid that <strong>children</strong> had <strong>the</strong> right <strong>to</strong> decide over <strong>the</strong>ir leisure time, but thathaving parents <strong>to</strong> guide <strong>the</strong>m was important. According <strong>to</strong> this respondent itwas old <strong>people</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> politicians who decided in society.The four refugee <strong>children</strong> who were interviewed in Alta said <strong>the</strong>y knewlittle of <strong>the</strong> <strong>UN</strong> Convention on <strong>the</strong> Rights of <strong>the</strong> Child. They appeared <strong>to</strong>have a smaller say at home than Norwegian <strong>children</strong>, although most of <strong>the</strong>mcould talk <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir mo<strong>the</strong>r if <strong>the</strong>y were in difficulty. Only one of <strong>the</strong> <strong>children</strong><strong>report</strong>ed having a say in decisions at school. In Alta <strong>the</strong> project groupcomments that it may be more difficult for immigrant <strong>children</strong> <strong>to</strong> assert <strong>the</strong>iropinions on account of language problems, lack of knowledge in some schoolsubjects <strong>and</strong> unfamiliarity with Norwegian codes <strong>to</strong> be observed <strong>to</strong> gainacceptance in a class where <strong>the</strong> pupils already know one ano<strong>the</strong>r. Respect for<strong>the</strong> teacher is often high. Half of <strong>the</strong> <strong>children</strong> said <strong>the</strong>y had no-one <strong>to</strong> talk <strong>to</strong>if difficulties were encountered at school.In <strong>the</strong> same way <strong>young</strong> clients of <strong>the</strong> child welfare service felt <strong>the</strong>y had fewrights at home or at school. However, <strong>the</strong>y did feel <strong>the</strong>ir voice was heard in<strong>the</strong>ir dealings with <strong>the</strong> child welfare service. These <strong>young</strong>sters were highlypreoccupied with good networks, with having friends <strong>and</strong> someone close <strong>to</strong>confide in. Public health nurses <strong>and</strong> teachers were important figures provided<strong>the</strong> <strong>young</strong>sters had confidence in <strong>the</strong>m.Respondents’ perception of <strong>the</strong>ir situationcompared with o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>children</strong>Some municipalities asked <strong>the</strong> <strong>children</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> how well <strong>the</strong>y weredoing compared with o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>children</strong>. The answers showed that from a good70 per cent <strong>to</strong> about 80 per cent believed <strong>the</strong>y <strong>the</strong>ir situation was equal <strong>to</strong> orbetter than that of o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>children</strong> in Norway. A fur<strong>the</strong>r question was "Whatproblems are faced by <strong>children</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> in o<strong>the</strong>r parts of <strong>the</strong> worldthat are not faced by <strong>children</strong> in Norway?" The answers showed that <strong>children</strong><strong>and</strong> <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> are highly preoccupied with <strong>the</strong> situation of <strong>children</strong> <strong>and</strong><strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> in o<strong>the</strong>r parts of <strong>the</strong> world. Several highlighted <strong>the</strong> lack of food,clean water, education, money, technology <strong>and</strong> health facilities. Some– Children <strong>and</strong> <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> <strong>report</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>UN</strong> on <strong>the</strong>ir rights – 21
answered war, orphanhood, child labour <strong>and</strong> violence. In one group <strong>the</strong> boystalked all at once, listing lack of education, clothing, food <strong>and</strong> money.Children in poor countries don't get what <strong>the</strong>y need. They can't doeverything <strong>the</strong>y want <strong>to</strong> do - because no one has money - <strong>and</strong> things likethat.And rules! There are different rules!Many <strong>people</strong> are affected by poverty <strong>and</strong> it’s as much as <strong>the</strong>y can do <strong>to</strong> getfood <strong>and</strong> clean water, let alone get an education. There aren't even enoughschools for everyone. In Norway some <strong>children</strong> have <strong>to</strong> cope with mentalproblems, in o<strong>the</strong>r countries <strong>children</strong> are struggling with deficiencydiseases. Ano<strong>the</strong>r thing we don't have in Norway is child labour.The problem from many <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> is survival. For example in Iraq,<strong>the</strong> Middle East <strong>and</strong> India <strong>to</strong>o. They're grateful just <strong>to</strong> wake up <strong>the</strong> nextday, alive, while for us <strong>to</strong> be grateful means having <strong>to</strong> have those Dieseljeans costing 2500 kroner (laughs) <strong>and</strong> a widescreen TV in our bedroom,while <strong>the</strong>y're grateful waking up <strong>the</strong> next day.Some pointed <strong>to</strong> problems in Norway:There are <strong>children</strong> in Norway facing <strong>the</strong> same problems as <strong>people</strong> in o<strong>the</strong>rparts of <strong>the</strong> world … not all <strong>children</strong> in Norway have a lot of money <strong>and</strong>care <strong>and</strong> attention.This question elicited interest. The <strong>young</strong>sters reflected on <strong>the</strong> large numberof <strong>children</strong> in Norway whose parents are divorced. Alcohol <strong>and</strong> drug problemswere also mentioned.Although <strong>the</strong> main conclusion drawn from <strong>the</strong> groups in S<strong>and</strong>nes <strong>and</strong><strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r municipalities was that that <strong>children</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> had a goodlife in Norway, a clear exception is worth noting: Young <strong>people</strong> from asylumreception centres <strong>to</strong>ok a very poor view of <strong>the</strong>ir situation. They experienced<strong>the</strong>ir everyday life as completely different from that of Norwegian <strong>young</strong><strong>people</strong>, <strong>and</strong> believed no explanation was needed: "Anyone can see <strong>the</strong> differencesat once." They also described <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> living in asylum receptioncentres as poor.There is reason <strong>to</strong> support <strong>the</strong> conclusion of <strong>the</strong> Alna <strong>report</strong> that <strong>young</strong><strong>people</strong> are, in <strong>the</strong>ir own way, aware of differences in living conditions in <strong>the</strong>world, in terms of material goods as well as differing laws <strong>and</strong> rules.22– NOVA Report 2b/08 –
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