Let children get the attention they deserve: An Appeal from the Concern for Working Children india

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Title: Let children get the attention they deserve:
An Appeal from the
Concern for Working Children india
extracted text: SDA-RF-CH-1B.13

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tHe Conce>r:eii foi Working Chiiciren" <cwc@pobox.corn*
-e<»ngr Ageros” <naf936@yahoo com*: “Ben White" <WHfTER@iss.nl>: "Ben Phillips"
<bphillips@cxfam.org uk>; <bchi!d@vsn! net'-: <bangatoresolidarity@yshoogroups.com'--;
"ba-egers guiiar" <sujiarbo@email com*, "bansgere gujjsr” «gyjiarbg@yahoo com*, “Bsiajes
3 M" =-arav:i'idbalsiee@hctmaii.coni>; "Babu Mathew" --biT.aihswQriis.ac.i.'i*
Saturday. P actuary C7. 2004 1:38 PM
ibanoaioresoiioarity] Lei childr en pet the attention they deserve: AnAppeal from the
Concemec for Working Children indis

Dear Friends,

The General Elections 2004 have been announced, Many of you, through your civil
society movements or private development organisations are preparing for your
campaigns to draw the attention of political parties and the civil society to the issues
that concern you deeply.

0

This appeal comes to you from the Concerned for Working children, a secular,
democratic national private development agency working.in partnership with
children for the realisation of their rights (www.work1ngchnd.org). We are committed
to create a sustainable and comprehensive model of development which enables the
active involvement nf aH marginalised groups, including children in governance.

Any society that is child centered sand cniid rights friendiy is essentially a just and
equitable one. Hence we sincerely request you and your organisations to consider
children’s rights and the best interest of children as crucial elements of the India we
lAy aspire for. We appeal to you to kindly indicate the importance of children’s rights
'
and include them to issues y ou intend io lobby foi during and after the elections.

ryt*'

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We have -“eluded » list of over-arching issues for your consideration. We are
i.aciiitaiirtg m ciewth coi'isuliaiions witir criiidreii regarding the issues tiiev wish to
raise with the political parties. We will send out the outcome of those discussions to
you in due course.
We also request you *0 indicate those issues that you would like us to raise in our
campaign.
tjiJ’iren.ger five.arigiiiiyitJiiefy^AseCvAt

We, as a nation, have repeatedly failed our children. We have not been able to meet their,
most basic needs and have been unabie to ensure Them a quality of life that they deserve.' '
We have grossly denied -heir right to self-determination and identity and we have been
i.ieaiinLi ii'i&ifi as passive iecipieiits of adult benevolence on the one hand and on the olhei,
as victims of adult exploitation and abuse.

As ~ consequence of cur present mode! of development that has resulted in the changing
nature of land use and agriculture and sacrificing the rich bio-diversity of our planet; the
pt ivaiisaiion of basic set vices such as education, energy, water, transport and
tetecommunicotioris and lessening peoples participation in the governances of common
goods iike forests, land, air, water, fuel, manure and forest produce; the increase in urban
poverr/ and the displacement of tne marginalised, children have become the most
vulnerable victims of this global war for ultimate resource control.

„

Page 2 oi’ 10

1 his has resuned is a wide range of problems, including a drastic increase in chiid labour.
child trafficking, child abuse and child pornography. While other marginalised groups at
iwrt h„.„ „
uh-;d;on j;-.. denied uro:: this. Ws are yet to provide Space for child:e;;
anc they remain invisible, marginalised, unrecognised and oppressed. This has aiso
resulted in nraduel reduction in children’s participation in the economic, social, political
ano spiritual arenas ano the reasons for this were not aiways ‘the .best interest of the
c/n/cr but protectionism, patriarchy and the rise of corporate imperialism
in 1&8§; the Generai Assembly of the United Nations adopted The Convention on the
Rights of the Child (C-RC). It states "every child has a right to good food, shelter, education
and clay, me riyiit to say what they think and to be listened to, and the right to protection
from abuse." However these rights are qualified by a basic principle in the CRC that states
in Article 3: "fo to? aetforts coticarning chi’dran, Wriediar lind&rtaketi by public or
private social welfare institutions, courts of taw, administrative authorities or

legislative bodies, ths best Interest of the child shall hs a primary consideration".

Since the late 19:n century ths concapiuaiisation cf children as irrational, incomplete and
passive has dominated western thought and has been exported giobaiiy. Accordingly,
adults - including agency staff - are taken to be the experts on children’s needs, with most
organisations uaCiiiiortaliy targeting interventions at parents in tne belief that benefits woulo
trickle down to children. Only relatively recently has it been acknowledged that children
have (and can express) different concerns, needs and aspirations from those of their
parents. Tnis being the case, it cannot be assumed that approaching children through aduit
family members necessarily serves their best interests.

But how do we determine the child's best interest? The answer to this question is no
different as for any other group. W© need to ask the children. Children are not passive
beings They have proven rime and rime again that they are very powerful actors for social
and political change. To participate is s natural instinct. Children are attempting to
participate all the time. There are many groups of children especially working children's
unions and movements that have demanded and occupied space to participate, including
political space.

We request you to urge al! political parties to:
- Commit themselves to the realisation cf the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

® Accept the Principle of the Best Interest of the Child as central to al! their policies and
programmes.
» Sei up the National Children Commission on the basis of i;;e recommendations made
by children. (The Recommendations of the National Movement of Working Children is
enclosed as Annexura 2)
« Ensure meaningful participation of children in the development, implementation and
monitoring of tho Slate and National Plans cf Action towards fulfilling their
commitment to create a wcriri fir for children.
=> Sei up decision-making structures, which enable children io participate in decision
making processes at all levels of governance.

End social, political and economic exploitation of children.

2.T1/04

* ixc'v'iaiiSw CiGwTvvi'eiCy, ScCUiafioiTt Sfiu CiGCGntraliSGM CjOV'SiTiSnCtr ifi Oi'G&i' tO 6ri5ti)‘G

’-a m a a "in gfu! participation of al! marginalised groups, including children.
Aiiocate srisnijare resources to issues, which affect children either directly or

We lock forward to your feed and thank you for your solidarity.

With vvdrfi! itjyefuS.
txSVnS rxotHS

Director - Communications

The Concerned for Working Children
Annexure: 1

The following ere the Recommendations by the members of the National Movement
of Working Children as stated in their Alternate Report submitted to the members of

the Committee on the Rights of th« Child:
kVHATV»ETnit<K 3nC-ULD_8E DQWE;
We
discussed and put down what we think needs to be done. Our suggestions have been listed here
under three mein heads:

1. Participation
2. Protection

3. Provision
1. Participation:
o We have given detailed recommendations to the Government on me structure, me roie ana tne
functions of the proposed National Commission on Children. It is annexed to this report. (Annexure 1)
® Most cnildren of our country do not Know that we children have rights The Government should make
sure that al! children have access to information about what children’s rights are. The school curriculum
should also include lessons about children's rights.
o We children should form our own organisations to protect our rights and to realise our rights.
The Government should give recognition to our organisations and take our views seriously.

2.T 1/04
Page. 4 of U)

” M ir ore or me areas w/?ere ive are oresent me roads were flooded due ?o fleavtr rains.

” v*/e catted for a meeting and decided to repair me road ourselves with the help or me local i
youth association. The ven' next dav we filled uo the oils with hrick oiece and sand. The

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pAanv * cur oarents do no: know about
rinhts. *7 is imoortant mat adults know about their
rights end the ways io realise their rights. Parents also need to know how they can help us to
yi’Ovy lO Gut' luii potential.
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o Vvr.cn decisions arc made about matters that concern as. '••■a children should be involved in that
process. Wherever children e organisations exist, representatives of children's organisations

snouia De involved in me process, where cniiaren's organisations do not exist at present, tne
adults should facilitate children to choose their representatives — keening in mind different aoe
r-tr-oi inr ^tA«~ .-fi —e.->vat o'ti iAhr.i->r r>r nlniIzJa
ui gUljo ghg gi i . u. u; u cnuauci io ui v-i uiui Gi i.

o There* should he provisions for representatives of children’s organisations and children’s
councils io icji'c cart in Pmo>ovors Associations meeiing wnerc iney discuss ano take decisions

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i IO LJU VUI I II I IU> IL Cli IU .1 iU I". VJLVO CD I IGWIG I IC,U UO LU jtjl U >_< Oil UULUI OO iUI UU Lu ocl UGloQlC
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local isvs! ine stale leva! tne national 'eves and ins mlema^iona! level

o At the local level, there snould fee provisions for us io form our own Children s Councils. The.ss
counoiis snouiu oa mace up oT cniiti representatives eie^^^d b-' ai> p'^’dren or
z%on^:t:'n len^y
We shouiCi maKe sure uiei an groups or cnildreri ^working ohiioreri. scnool-gomg cniioren.
chiicren with disabilities etc) are represented in the council The number of seats for each
category of children may he decided based on the number of children they represent and
sevent', of the problems th^'7 f°ce

tnese support structures, ii'iese structures should be a pat 7 of the Natior'icn Commission for
Children

o i i'iG repi'esei’itattves oi the local governments should have meetings with representatives of
chiicren s organisations in tneir areas at least once in three months. At these meetings the
Corporators should consult us about what we need and also report to us about the actions thev
have taken regarding cur recommendations. Once a year they should meet all the children in

ii2. Protection:

Page 5 of iu

O | VdiiUi rji’i ill fi048iuOuS il'iQuSti ioS hiUSt Ut? pt'OioU’.T3M. Ji vvo

Shave ro come out of Hazardous worK. we neec support to
ideal with our financial problems and we need assistance

jand oppoi'iur'nties to learn. not places where we are
,sny nrohr.om /.$ eas/er *o <ace i' vve -70? j punished ano num mated

rry-t s-. is*

s*.-\ tff s\tites* !t r

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o jToii free phone lines arid stamp free post cards should be
(Tnis is an extract trom tne document produced imade available for u$ tn contact children’s organisation®

snou;a also '

wofk

widi Metier co-orGinaTiOi • a<»ionc»

ihemseives.
Inara should be nicre chucs rnandiy institutions ror children wno nave run away trom noma.

'wnen <•- child s taken
the S^ate ,0bcerv2^ior' Home '^•o/c^oo ^hou’d ha;/e an 'mmecra^e
access io tegai assistance rrorn a special panes Oi Lawyers. \c»tnei‘ volunteers or tnose
appointed by the Judges or from the Legai Aid Ceii) This wiii ensure that we are assured of legai
and emotion:?! sijnnnrt of a hioh ouaiitv. Such svstems exist in other countries such as Canada.
o Many chiioren are taken into rhe Observation Homes and Remand Homes for non-criminai
reasons. Yet, when they return home, thev have to face a lot of humiliation within the family and

Children who ioave Romano Homos should also get a certificate for ti
in the Home so that it may be useful io them to find jobs in the future.

VO:

c The mcmocrc of the National Movement of Working Children would like to receive permission to
visit Remand Homes on a regular basis in order io inspect the Remand Homes in our respective
states provide support to cnnaren wno are tnere and neip in their rehabilitation We would also
Hke to recommend that NGOs working with us to be given permission to enter the Remand
Homa to represent children ’when repaired and to assist in the rehabilitation

c Children in difficult circumstances should get appropriate rehabilitation. The concerned children
and their families (where ever required) should be involved in the planning as 'well as the
implementation of the rehabilitation precremme.

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GUI* CG!*!VGr!’,5f"!C6.

SOCirsty. i i to pt oSei'ii i<aw Ot’i Ci'ittU t tidi’i iciOo iS vot'y wodK. i t’ioi’o Sf'iOuid be ct beuei" idw Ot'i Ci mb

marriages ana shouid be effectively implemented. The iaw shouid include a condition mat aii
marriaoes have to be reoistered at the local Government.
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> vve vVoi’it me Help o« ponce io step cnnci rriarrisGes

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uravviriG oy j issiru oangnai

tt'iStSi Ut t idKii iy ubw’i y ti iey Si’iOuiCi be ieOaiiy di id SOCtdiiy pOi'fi&i'teO.

trie viiiage about trie :ii eneuis of aicorioi abuse

o tducaiion is our right, it shouid be made available to us at the place of our convenience and at

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j We. working children shouid have opportunities to get schooling end vocational
ti training at times that are convenient to us

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veeieHi. viMiyoi vonavn Ocji tyi icji H

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o vve worKing cnndren want quality eaucation. wmch is recognisec oy me Government and me
societ-/ Mot non-forma! educ^^on
o 'me local governments snouid nave the authority to take decisions about me scnooi timings, me
location of the school, the location of the day care centres for small children and such other

'A^hen adults migrate for work for lonq periods of time, their children need to be provided hosts’ fam!i*'°s
in the:r viii^nec/ho.mptnwn's so
their «;r.hnrJinn is not di.smrherl and that they are taken care of
: AB the childcare centres should work full day. So that our parents can qo to work.
n The information regarding schemes and scholarships provided to marginalised children shou’d
be widely publicised and they should be available to us at the right time The materials provided
Sub:- i'-heines (fiee books, stations!y, ufiifoun etc) should be of good doubly.

•=•

huuCauOii Gui i'iGviuiti Si ivuiu uc i6i6V6i il tO Oui* ueiiiy iii’6. ii Si’iOuiu i i6ip tO pi*6pen’6 uS ivi’ the; iui.ui‘6.

Lessons scout me Children’s Rignts. mciuaing an laws apoucaoie to children snouia oe osrt of me
curriculum. It should include information shout our bodies, our work and such issues that ere important

o Wa should have access to good heath facilities close to where we live

o Tne hospitals snouia be open ar timings convenient to us ratherthan being open from 10 am to
5 om.
o Every hospital snouia nave a separate section for children where children can aiso get
counselling if required
o Tne local PHCs snould nave a medical record of all children in their areas Once in 3 months
child should got medicallv examined and the record should be u undated
c There shot ild he counselling services for children Who are mentally disturbed

o The hosoitais should be ciean.
O Ail Oet^UieMLi iC i lOSpi.eilS CfiUSt h<=rv.b

social wCnna’b.

*

DcsStC n'm <aa»ii uCiui c Sirs6 wdici. lUiiet iu6i etc.. Sfiuuid ue ii’icuc dvctiictijie iu Cui’iWi Unities etCCOfGu’tQ lG

me population of me area.
v When major development programmes like building of dams are planned, the local communities should

he consulted

We. the National Movement of Working Children. Ln our fifth meeting held at Bangalore (April 27, 28 -S 29.

irouoed under foi

i. The roie of the National Cniidren's Commission fNCC)
2. The composition of the NGC

Our inputs were further developed during me Child Labour Qay celebrations of the Kernefaka State Wcrkino
r*rnil."lrors’c ft/Izv/pryicnf ■*'n A r\rll *20 z7r'n<
. i,.
I w ,si-» • *-zi . < i a - vii r tr^i ■ a *w w ■
.
•j. The roie of rhe reCC

— •» Vo Gi liiufcn novo uui *_»»»!» ngrks. ine s^ommiSSion snouio rnaKo it pcssiOiGtor us to raause «.nGm
o The Commission should ensure that the State makes available to us all that is due to us accordinc to
'a'v
e Ths Commission should ensure that we should not face any kind of problems
9 The Commission snouio make sure that no rights of any children are violated
4 Ths Commission shouid disci iss children's problems and find solutions for them
•

i ho GviininSStut > SiiOuiu Ci’GaiG Opportunities lOi US tO pietsci il Oui* iSSdeS. v‘ve ci niui ci i Si lUuiu be el'OiG

ciscuss an our prooiems witn me Commission ana to fine solutions together

* it sriouid make suie that no wot king child has any problems

s 1* shouid concert othc’' unions and oraani^ations ’r- *-°'r

■-> Tne Commission should ensure that children eeiow the age or id should not he involved in narmrut

aiidi I'tciii veS.

»
«
*

Our opinions should be reached to the government throuoh the Commission
Tne Commission should stop ail exploitation of children, by employers
The Commission shouid ensure that children have access to aii the facilities we need
The oolice shouid be friendly with children. If they are not, the Commission should take action. They
should provide tfainiug to the police about children

* The Commission should be concerned about school dropouts, it shouid find out why children are

leaving school and won< wirn other organisation’s to solve tneir problems it should imorove tne school
system to meet our needs
t Children face a !oi of piobiems-because of alcohol The Commission shouid shut down ail liquor shops
» Tne Commission shouid work cioseiy with organisations and forums formed bv children

2 '11'04

uuii iy uniiuieii and di&abicu uhnuien

•? T'",“ sdult members of ths Commission should be aware of children's riohts. They should be

oayiny aiier nion io US and io hold discussions with uS. They should be aware of children S
organisations Most importantly they should respect children and be aoie to fill them with
hapoiness
<> The members sheuid be able to respect and support the decisions children take. They should be
aoie to provide ouiCK reiier to G«"ttiGi"er«

o The Commission should include representatives of the National Movement of Working Children
!*
'Id ho'^o rr'cj*0sen^o^’,/ec" of Chjfdrenc Pancbsvat^
jailuuid include Oui well wishes S.

it should have representatives c* oovernment officials, labour unions and oeoole who have a

Thp location o* the MCC

outiui iiie iauiiiiies we necu ime uoiice Stations and rio&pitais ate ilui accessible to uS. They

arp too tar away I he Commission should not he like that. It has to he p.lwavs accessible to us

s.uouic: novo iccsi nurr.ocr u; c:yi;s co uiu. uniidron can rcmcmccr :i cosily

ukc

inc iv.cKKOiQ

l?di iayei v’di’ii vi' Otnivten S Heiu Lute. teiepi’ivi'ie iiuu'iMet'; *»0$o.

The Commission should he located within the villaoe and slums at such locations where they
can os OcSiiv accessed
should be links between the dinereni ueniies of trie Curnrnis’Sion.

\A/r:oroiy.^r rbe Governments are not doing good work the Commission should definitely be

V«;r.erever mere are large t'lUiTiber of chiloreri working. me k^orrirriis&iOi i snouid oe present mere
There should be Children’s Commissions in al! countries of the world so that the children of
ether countries can also benefit from it.
a.

! He functioning of me HCG

•» ii si>uutu <sii&uiis inai aii clHiureri yei jubiice. How ever d'ffiuuii iue problem is, il should work in sucn e

way tnaf our ngnts are realised it snouid ensure mat ail cmidren are ante to access all tne facilities
they need
♦ ii should give respect to us
• it should work in such a way that children can reach it at anytime, in any situation and inform our
oroNe™"
,j tvrei iy tlmeS Vve crtikiren T-?Ce yrOuiern^ OeC^USe gOvemmerttS do ifOt CiO W:’i^i thev 5re> suOOOSed I1? du.
rdcor ivel riel iced

* it shoufd solve our problems immediately
* Ev=;; if ir:e -lubiirn is a small oris, Ilia Commission should give it a lot of importance
3 There snouta oe a iot of publicity aoout me Commission in aii places

Media: SDA-RF-CH-1B.13.pdf

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