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

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Unaccompanied minor asylum seekers reckoned <strong>the</strong>y could contact <strong>the</strong> staffat <strong>the</strong> reception centre, but were uncertain who <strong>to</strong> contact once <strong>the</strong>y wereliving in <strong>the</strong>ir own flat. Some suggested <strong>the</strong>ir list doc<strong>to</strong>r or a friend. Several<strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> said <strong>the</strong>y were not taken seriously when <strong>the</strong>y phoned <strong>to</strong> ask forassistance: "When a <strong>young</strong> person rings <strong>the</strong>y reckon he's just kidding ".In S<strong>and</strong>nes <strong>children</strong> at <strong>the</strong> day care centre said that if someone was sad,ill or had a pain somewhere, <strong>the</strong>y should go <strong>to</strong> a grown-up. They could alsoask a grown-up <strong>to</strong> phone mo<strong>the</strong>r or fa<strong>the</strong>r; <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong>y should go <strong>to</strong> home <strong>and</strong>lie down on <strong>the</strong> couch, or go <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> doc<strong>to</strong>r or <strong>to</strong> hospital. The <strong>children</strong> alsopointed <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own role in consoling someone who has taken a tumble or isfeeling sad, <strong>and</strong> help <strong>the</strong>m by going <strong>to</strong> one of <strong>the</strong> grown-ups at <strong>the</strong> day carecentre.Children <strong>and</strong> <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> were preoccupied with loyalty, accessibility<strong>and</strong> confidentiality:• If a friend's health problem was serious, most of <strong>the</strong>m were adamantthat you had <strong>to</strong> ask that friend what it is that he or she wanted.Loyalty was at centre stage.• The public health nurse was <strong>the</strong> most familiar adult <strong>and</strong> one that most<strong>children</strong> mentioned regardless of <strong>the</strong> problem at h<strong>and</strong>. However,many informants viewed <strong>the</strong> public health nurse as inaccessible. Shewas only <strong>the</strong>re once a week, <strong>and</strong> that was <strong>to</strong>o little. Nor were <strong>the</strong>y surewhich day <strong>the</strong> public health nurse was at school, <strong>and</strong> some said that it<strong>to</strong>ok <strong>to</strong>o long <strong>to</strong> get help. One said: "It <strong>to</strong>ok me three months <strong>to</strong> speak <strong>to</strong><strong>the</strong> public health nurse".• The <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> were concerned with whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> adults <strong>the</strong>y spoke<strong>to</strong> observed <strong>the</strong>ir duty of confidentiality. Adults had <strong>to</strong> be trusted inorder <strong>to</strong> dare <strong>to</strong> <strong>report</strong> anything. Some would feel awkward <strong>and</strong> a littleembarrassed if <strong>the</strong>y were seen on <strong>the</strong>ir way <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> public health nurse.Thoughts about <strong>the</strong> futureThe closing questions in <strong>the</strong> interviews <strong>and</strong> questionnaires elicited <strong>children</strong>’s<strong>and</strong> <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong>’s thoughts on <strong>and</strong> views of <strong>the</strong> future. Some of <strong>the</strong>questions asked what <strong>the</strong>y thought could be done <strong>to</strong> bring about a betterchildhood environment, what youth measures <strong>the</strong>y would prioritise if <strong>the</strong>ywere politicians <strong>and</strong> sat on <strong>the</strong> municipal council, <strong>and</strong> how <strong>the</strong>y envisaged<strong>the</strong>ir lives in 10 years’ time. Thoughts <strong>and</strong> opinions on <strong>the</strong> future expressedby <strong>children</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> in <strong>the</strong> eight participating municipalities roundoff <strong>the</strong> <strong>report</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> United Nations.– 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 – 53
What improvements can be made <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> conditions inwhich <strong>children</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> grow up?Some of <strong>the</strong> suggestions dealt with specific improvements in <strong>the</strong> respondents’local environment, such as building a swimming pool, facilities for those notinvolved in sport <strong>and</strong> music, more playgrounds, more mo<strong>to</strong>rcross <strong>and</strong> trialcircuits, better facilities for <strong>the</strong> disabled <strong>and</strong> persons in need of extra assistance,places <strong>to</strong> stay on weekend evenings, more leisure activities <strong>and</strong> a greaternumber of committed adults. Suggestions of a more general nature were alsomade such as introducing <strong>the</strong> right <strong>to</strong> vote at age 16 <strong>and</strong> measures <strong>to</strong> combatdrug <strong>and</strong> alcohol problems. One respondent issued <strong>the</strong> following call: "Spendmore time listening <strong>to</strong> <strong>children</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>young</strong> <strong>people</strong> <strong>and</strong> what we want!"Some suggestions were related <strong>to</strong> improving schools• Better schools with textbooks for every pupil in every subject.• School canteen with hot meals!• Apprentice positions for pupils in vocational subjects.• Less bullying at school.• That teachers should see <strong>to</strong> it that <strong>the</strong>re is a good atmosphere among<strong>the</strong> pupils.• It is important <strong>to</strong> remember that <strong>children</strong> are Norway's future, <strong>the</strong>y are<strong>the</strong> ones who will be running this country <strong>and</strong> make <strong>the</strong> wheels goround. That’s why I feel it is important <strong>to</strong> make sure that <strong>the</strong> school isin a good state, getting a job must be straightforward, <strong>the</strong>re must beenough leisure activities, <strong>and</strong>, in particular, a mo<strong>to</strong>rcross circuit must beset up.O<strong>the</strong>r suggestions focused on <strong>the</strong> environment• Better public transport <strong>and</strong> better cycle paths are important!• CO 2emissions must be reduced.• Don’t litter <strong>the</strong> countryside.• Don't build so many houses, <strong>the</strong>y spoil <strong>the</strong> countryside.• Less pollution! More woodl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> open air.• The environment ought <strong>to</strong> be a major <strong>the</strong>me at school, if not anoptional subject.Suggestions of a more personal nature:• Make friends <strong>and</strong> be like everyone else.• Get a residence permit.54– NOVA Report 2b/08 –
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Children and <stro
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