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

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All <strong>the</strong>y wanted was a place where <strong>the</strong>y could have an nice time, <strong>and</strong> wherethings were not <strong>to</strong>o serious. One group reckoned that S<strong>and</strong>nes lacked goodfacilities for <strong>the</strong> disabled. They wanted more facilities for <strong>people</strong> interested incomputing <strong>and</strong> technology.As in <strong>the</strong> case of o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>mes, <strong>the</strong>re was a gulf between <strong>the</strong> statementsof <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> resident in S<strong>and</strong>nes <strong>and</strong> <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> living at <strong>the</strong> asylumreception centre. The oldest of <strong>the</strong> <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> from <strong>the</strong> asylum receptioncentre did not think leisure facilities in S<strong>and</strong>nes were up <strong>to</strong> much. They hadnothing <strong>to</strong> do, "just w<strong>and</strong>er around <strong>the</strong> bus station <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> shopping centre".They knew of some leisure facilities, but didn't think <strong>the</strong>re was anything <strong>to</strong>do <strong>the</strong>re. They missed leisure facilities at <strong>the</strong> asylum reception centre.Transport was ano<strong>the</strong>r problem. There were few buses <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> centre. Young<strong>people</strong> wanted youth cafes, a studio <strong>the</strong>y could rent, basketball, a free sportsclub, a youth disco<strong>the</strong>que <strong>and</strong> better transport facilities. One <strong>young</strong> personreckoned that <strong>the</strong>re were no buses <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> asylum reception centre because<strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> from <strong>the</strong> reception centre were not welcome down<strong>to</strong>wn. The<strong>young</strong>sters also said <strong>the</strong>re was nothing <strong>to</strong> do in <strong>the</strong> summer holidays. Theywanted <strong>to</strong> go <strong>to</strong> Kristians<strong>and</strong>, Oslo or Bergen, or on holiday like o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>young</strong>Norwegians. One said:I've been living here for five years now, <strong>and</strong> haven't been on a singleholiday in that time. There could have been activities at <strong>the</strong> receptioncentre, something okay here. The Norwegians are having a nice time whilewe have <strong>to</strong> stay here, going nuts.Ano<strong>the</strong>r said: "We're not allowed <strong>to</strong> keep animals. We're not allowed <strong>to</strong> have <strong>the</strong>internet installed because we don't have a residence permit. And we can't travelabroad because we don't have a residence permit."Younger <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> at <strong>the</strong> asylum reception centre were more content;<strong>the</strong>y mentioned leisure activities such as going for a walk, going <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> cinema<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> karate club. They missed a gym where <strong>the</strong>y could just turn up <strong>and</strong>that was open <strong>to</strong> everyone. The group of unaccompanied minors from <strong>the</strong>asylum reception centre were not aware of any leisure activities in S<strong>and</strong>nes;<strong>the</strong>y said <strong>the</strong>y rarely turned up at such activities. Several of <strong>the</strong>m played cricketat <strong>the</strong> reception centre, <strong>and</strong> some said <strong>the</strong>y had visited a recreational club<strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r with staff. To <strong>the</strong> question of what <strong>the</strong>y missed, several said <strong>the</strong>ywould like organised cricket <strong>to</strong>urnaments, <strong>and</strong> some wanted <strong>to</strong> play football<strong>and</strong> volleyball <strong>and</strong> go on outings.– 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 – 49
In S<strong>and</strong>nes <strong>children</strong> at <strong>the</strong> day care centre talked about different things<strong>the</strong>y did in <strong>the</strong>ir leisure time. Sometimes <strong>the</strong>y were allowed <strong>to</strong> decide for<strong>the</strong>mselves, e.g. go <strong>to</strong> football, karate or gymnastics, while one said that"mum decides". They said both mo<strong>the</strong>r <strong>and</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r drove <strong>the</strong>m <strong>to</strong> leisureactivities. One said: "I don't go <strong>to</strong> any activities, I’m just at <strong>the</strong> day care centre,at home <strong>and</strong> have a nice time. "Is it safe going out?In Lilles<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Trondheim, Alta <strong>and</strong> Kau<strong>to</strong>keino <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> were askedwhe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y thought it was safe going out in <strong>the</strong> evening, <strong>to</strong> <strong>and</strong> fromleisure activity venues or friends’ houses. Between 86 <strong>and</strong> 91 per centthought it was safe. In <strong>the</strong> interviews in Trondheim some cited traffic as <strong>the</strong>reason why <strong>the</strong>y did not feel safe. Traffic speed <strong>and</strong> a lack of footpaths was aproblem outside urban areas, said <strong>children</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong>. Moreover, inAlna most of <strong>the</strong> <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> said that although <strong>the</strong>y travelled safely <strong>to</strong> <strong>and</strong>from <strong>the</strong> various meeting places, <strong>the</strong>ir parents were worried each time <strong>the</strong>rewas an incident of one kind or ano<strong>the</strong>r: "They’re likely <strong>to</strong> say no you can’t go<strong>the</strong>re; this or that might happen." In S<strong>and</strong>nes <strong>the</strong> <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> said that beingsafe mattered, both <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>m <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir parents.In Alta <strong>children</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> were also asked whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y hadbeen subjected <strong>to</strong> unfair treatment/discrimination in <strong>the</strong>ir leisure time onvarious grounds. Around 95 per cent answered that <strong>the</strong>y had not felt discriminatedagainst on account of gender, disability or nationality. In relation <strong>to</strong>religion/life philosophy, <strong>the</strong> figure was 88 per cent. Although <strong>the</strong>re wassomewhat less discrimination in leisure time than at school, <strong>the</strong> tendency was<strong>the</strong> same: a majority stated that <strong>the</strong>y were not discriminated against.Do you decide your leisure activities yourself?A large majority of pupils confirmed <strong>the</strong>y could decide <strong>the</strong>ir leisure activities<strong>the</strong>mselves, between 94 <strong>and</strong> 98 per cent in Bjugn <strong>and</strong> Kau<strong>to</strong>keino agreed‘completely/<strong>to</strong> some extent’. Once again this impression was confirmed in<strong>the</strong> qualitative interviews in <strong>the</strong> Alna district of Oslo <strong>and</strong> S<strong>and</strong>nes. Howeverit emerged that most pupils discussed <strong>the</strong>ir activities with <strong>the</strong>ir parents, <strong>and</strong>that finances, lack of transport <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r obligations in relation <strong>to</strong> school <strong>and</strong>home limited <strong>the</strong> scope of activities <strong>the</strong>y could participate in.Young <strong>people</strong> at <strong>the</strong> asylum reception centre said <strong>the</strong>ir financialsituation prevented <strong>the</strong>m from participating in leisure activities. Their50– NOVA Report 2b/08 –
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Page 49: cent, while more than 90 per cent i
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Page 57 and 58: General optimism• I think I've go
Page 59 and 60: eported the same.
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Page 63 and 64: without doubt be improved. The surv
Page 65: The municipal report</stron

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