UNIVERSAL CHILDREN’S DAY[1]:
Stop Violence Against
Children
On
Even though children of all social origins are concerned
by violence, notably in the private sphere, a recent study by OMCT shows that,
in particular, poverty is an undeniable root cause of violence. As a result,
children coming from disadvantaged social backgrounds are often found to be the
most vulnerable. Torture “emerges in societies in which bonds have degraded,
where social injustice, marginalisation and unreserved exploitation generate
collective violence, both on the part of those who control the State in order to
serve their own interests and among the victims who, because of the absence of
the space and system required to recognize and protect their rights, resort to
violence that ultimately breaks the social contract”.[4] For instance, the study reveals that, in Egypt, police
officers arrest and detain children solely on account of their precarious social
situation, i.e., being homeless, engaging in begging or due to a disability, not
because they have infringed the law.[5]
During the course of 2006,
OMCT also denounced the inappropriate and repressive solutions which have been
applied to children living on the street. In
Street children are rarely
considered as rights holders and are often targets for severe abuses such as
violent arrests. In the
Minors in conflict with the
law, particularly those deprived of liberty, are often victims of violence which
is rarely ever denounced. OMCT’s reports on
OMCT militates in favour of those categories of children
“who embarrass” or who are ignored in order to ensure their protection and the
respect of their rights. In this framework, OMCT deplores the fear or even
resistance of some States to accept the creation of a Special Representative to
the UN General Secretary on Violence Against Children, despite the fact that the
study on Violence Against Children directed by Prof. Sérgio Pinheiro has been
widely accepted and conducted in consultation with States. This study makes a
clear plea for action by concluding that violence against children can never be
justified, whether it is imposed by tradition or meted out for discipline, and
that all forms of violence against children can be prevented.[9] OMCT regrets the hypocrisy of States which have on one
day together denounced violence against children and on the next, they are
unwilling to take concrete measures to fight against it. OMCT calls on all
channels of media to raise awareness of this issue and to ask governments to
bring to light the action which they have implemented to effectively eradicate
violence against children.
The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) is the
world’s largest coalition of non-governmental organisations fighting against
arbitrary detention, torture, summary and extrajudicial executions, forced
disappearances and other forms of violence. Its global network comprises nearly
300 local, national and regional organisations, which share the common goal of
eradicating such practices and enabling the respect of human rights for
all.
Visit our website: www.omct.org
Contact:
Cécile Trochu
Grasso
Children’s Rights
Programme
OMCT
P.O. 21 – 8,
rue du Vieux Billard
CH- 1211
Tel : 0041 (0)22 809 49
39
Fax : 0041 (0)22 809 49
29
[1] This day was established across the world by recommendation of the UN
General Assembly in Resolution 836 (IX) on
[2] Except
[3] It was
revealed by the Final Report of Professor Sérgio Pinheiro, independent expert in
charge of the UN General Secretary’s study on violence against children,
presented last October at the General Assembly of the United Nations, A/61/299,
available at: www.violencestudy.org/IMG/pdf/English.pdf
[4] Eric
Sottas, Opening statement of the International Conference “Poverty, Inequality and Violence:
Is there a Human
Rights Response” in
[5]
Poverty, inequality and violence: the economic, social and cultural root causes
of violence, including torture: a human rights perspective, a study prepared by
OMCT. The chapter on
[6]
Maras are different from other stray gangs of children because of their
structure (leader/veteran/chief, initiation and promotion rituals), codes of
conduct, loyalty and honour as well as their distinctive identity (tattoos,
hairdo). Maras are a specific
phenomenon from
[7] Human
rights violations in
[8] See
urgent appeal OMCT COD 061006/ 061006 EE, only available in French, at:
www.omct.org/base.cfm?page=article&num=6304&consol=close&kwrd=OMCT&rows=2&cfid=4521935&cftoken=8596513
[9] Paulo
Sérgio Pinheiro, Independent Expert for the Study of the UN General Secretary on
violence against children, speech before the 3rd Committee of the General
Assembly, point 63 of the programme : promotion and protection of
children’s rights,
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