* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
GLOBAL children’s charity Plan International, has welcomed the African Union’s formal statement on the need to tackle and put a stop to violence against children.
The statement which acknowledges the depth of the problem, is calling on all parties to work together to stop it. Governments across Africa are encouraged to sign and ratify the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, to implement laws criminalizing violence against children and to commit the needed resources at all levels to eliminate violence in schools.
In recent years Plan has been advocating at the highest levels of government for the rights of children to live and learn without fear of violence or exploitation. Plan’s global campaign, “Learn Without Fear” promotes the development of policy and laws, while simultaneously encouraging the voluntary adoption of new violence-free programs at schools and in communities through outreach and education programs.
Recent success stories lead by Plan include:
- Guinea Bissau - On June 5, 2011, a coalition lead by Plan celebrated the passing of two laws by the government that criminalized the trafficking of children and female genital cutting. For nearly 6 years, Plan has urged the adoption of these laws to protect children by working with government and building public support through outreach.
- Zimbawbwe - Plan’s 2008 baseline corporal punishment survey served as a significant piece of evidence in the recent decision to revise Statutory Instrument 362 of the current Child Act, which initially stated that the use of corporal punishment against boys by school teachers was acceptable. This revision ensures that over two million boys are now protected under the law from being hit by teachers.
- South Sudan - The Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly passed the Child Act in late 2008 prohibiting corporal punishment and other abuses. Plan is currently working with government stakeholders to improve implementation of this Act.
- West Africa – Plan supported the Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare on the Child and partners ACPF and Global Initiative to end Corporal Punishment to conduct Africa wide consultations on corporal punishment and to develop a strategic plan to end this harmful practice.
Plan is committed to working with our partners to achieve the goal of stopping all violence against children, and especially violence in schools. Creating an environment free from violence and exploitation encourages the development of future leaders, entrepreneurs and teachers so needed by Africa.
EDITORS NOTES:
- Interviews with Plan staff responsible for the Learn Without Fear are available upon request.
- Plan has an observer status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights since May 2009 and signed a MoU with the AU Commission in November 2009.
- Plan’s global Learn Without Fear campaign calls for an end to violence against children in schools and enshrine the belief that every child has the right to a safe school environment.
- Learn Without Fear fights the most common forms of violence in schools – corporal punishment, bullying and sexual violence. Since its launch, over 390 million children around the world are better protected by new anti-violence legislation brought about by Plan’s lobbying, 22 countries report a reduction in girls’ dropout rates in targeted areas and over 20,000 teachers have been trained in positive discipline.
- Founded over 70 years ago, Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. We work in 48 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty.
For more information and interviews contact:
Louise Finan - Press Officer Plan International HQ
louise.finan@plan-international.org
+44 (0) 7739325807
