EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA: Regional Consultation Opens in Slovenia

05/07/2005  | Child Rights International Network

Summary:

Opening session of the Europe and Central Regional Consultation for the UN Study on violence against children taking place in Slovenia from 5 to 7 July 2005.

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Link: www.crin.org/violence/regions/region.asp?regionID=1008

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[LJUBLJANA - 5 July ‏2005] – The Europe and Central Asia Regional Consultation for the UN Study on violence against children opened today with over 250 participants from 52 countries, including children and young people, government representatives, and non-governmental organisations.

The meeting was officially opened by Janez Jansa, Prime Minister for the Republic of Slovenia who said that this consultation was an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences with all states in the region. “No one condones violence”, he explained, however children face violence inside their own homes, in classrooms, in the community and in residential institutions.

He explained that violence against children was often hidden, but this consultation and the recommendations that will be adopted here would help all states to find solutions for the future, “somewhere between law and practice there is a gap”, he continued, “this consultation hopes to mobilise everyone to act now…we cannot wait another year, almost every country has outlawed violence against children, but it remains in many places”.

Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Independent Expert leading the UN Secretary-General’s Study said that we should value children’s insights and fresh perspectives in the consultation, and said that even though many efforts had been made in the region to ban physical punishment in schools, much more needed to be done. In particular the disturbing legal and social acceptance of violence being disguised as discipline, “how can hitting children be reasonable” he asked.

He highlighted that in every regional consultation that had taken place so far, there had been a formal outcry by hundreds of children denouncing corporal punishment. Other issues that had been widely discussed elsewhere, he explained, was the situation of children in conflict with the law, particularly the fact that so many children are subjected to torture and are being held in inadequate conditions, for long periods of time. Finally, he deplored the fact that the rule of law often does not extend to juveniles, “children are not meant to be behind bars” he said.

The representative of children and young people declared “we know the problem and we know we have to do something about it”. She explained that 24 children from the region had been preparing for the consultation for the past two days, to help governments and NGOs find solutions, “you rely on our expertise like we rely on your power and commitment” she continued, “we have been shaping up our recommendations to find the roads to stop violence and prevent violence because this study is about, and for children”.

During the next two days, delegates will be taking part in working groups to draft recommendations to be adopted regarding the following: violence against children in the home, in schools, in residential institutions and in the community. Specific workshops will be looking at parenting and preventing violence in the home, sexual abuse and harmful traditional practices, the care system and children with disabilities and correctional institutions and reception centres.