In cities around the world, children are at especially high risk for various forms of physical and mental abuse, including neglect, economic exploitation, and sexual violence. Consequently, civil society organizations and governments alike are using a broad range of strategies to ensure that this vulnerable demographic is protected and enabled to thrive. Initiatives include government-run crisis centers for victims of sexual abuse, the creation of stronger legal protections for children, and a campaign to stop corporal punishment in schools. Learn more about these efforts to end violence against children in Chittagong, Mexico City, Mumbai, Accra, Jakarta, and São Paulo, and then join the conversation below.
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আনশু আধিকারি, অনুবাদকঃ ফারজানা নওশিন এবং নুসরাত ইয়াসমিন
শিশু অধিকার লঙ্ঘনের দুটি চরম প্রতিমূর্তি শিশুদের উপর যৌন নির্যাতন এবং ধর্ষণ। উভয়ই বাংলাদেশে প্রায়শই দেখা যায় এবং দুটিই গুরুতর সমস্যা হিসেবে চিহ্নিত হয়েছে। “আস্ক ডকুমেন্টেশন ইউনিট” এর একটি পরিসংখ্যানে দেখা যায় যে ২০১৩ সালের জানুয়ারী থেকে সেপ্টেম্বর মাসের মধ্যে বাংলাদেশে ৫৪ টি শিশু, ৭ থেকে ১২ বছরের মধ্যে ১০২ জন অপ্রাপ্তবয়স্ক এবং ৮৬ জন কিশোরকিশোরী ধর্ষিত হয়েছে। বলার অপেক্ষা থাকে না যে, এই পরিসংখ্যান যৌন নির্যাতনে শিকার হওয়া শিশুদের প্রকৃত সংখ্যা প্রকাশ করে না।
যৌন নির্যাতন ও ধর্ষণের এই প্রচলন বন্ধ করার জন্য, বিশেষ করে তরুণীদের উপর যৌন নির্যাতন বন্ধ করার জন্য সরকার পুরো বাংলাদেশে ২০০১ সালে “ওয়ান স্টপ ক্রাইসিস সেন্টার (ও,এস,সি,সি)” প্রতিষ্ঠা করেছে। এই সংস্থাটি বাংলাদেশের বিভিন্ন এনজিও যেগুলো মহিলাদের দ্বারা প্রচালিত হচ্ছে এবং রয়েল ডেনিশ দূতাবাসের তত্ত্বাবধায়নে প্রচালিত হচ্ছে। চট্রগ্রামে ও,এস,সি,সি ধর্ষণ ও যৌন নির্যাতনের শিকার ব্যক্তিদের বিভিন্ন সেবা দিয়ে থাকে; উদাহরণস্বরূপ, স্বাস্থ্য সেবা, বাসস্থান পরিসেবা, সামাজিক সেবা, মানসিক স্বাস্থ্য সেবা, আইন এবং পুলিশ সহায়তা এবং ডি,এন,এ পরীক্ষা করার সেবা দিয়ে থাকে। শিশুরা তাদের সেবার বৃহত্তম গ্রাহক।
ও,এস,সি,সি বিশেষ করে চট্রগ্রাম জেলায় শিশু অধিকার সংরক্ষণে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ভুমিকা পালন করছে কারণ চট্রগ্রামে প্রচুর গার্মেন্টস কারখানা রয়েছে এবং এটি পাহাড় বেষ্টিত এলাকা যা কোন কোন ক্ষেত্রে শিশু অধিকার লঙ্ঘনের ঝুঁকি হিসেবে কাজ করে। গ্রাম এবং শহরের বস্তি থেকে অনেক শিশু গার্মেন্টসে কাজ করতে আসে যেখানে তারা প্রায়ই যৌন নির্যাতনের শিকার হয়। একই ভাবে পাহাড় অঞ্চলে জমি এবং সম্পত্তির অধিকার নিয়ে বাংলাদেশী অধিবাসী এবং পাহাড়ের আদি জনগোষ্ঠীর সহিংসতায় নিরুপায় শিকার হয় শিশুরা। চট্রগ্রাম রক্ষণশীল সমাজ হওয়ায় ধর্ষণের শিকার এসব শিশুরা সাধারণত লজ্জায় নিজেকেই নির্যাতনের জন্য দায়ী করে এবং সমাজ থেকে বিচ্ছিন্ন জীবনযাপন করে।
চট্টগ্রামের ও.এস.সি.সি. অত্যাবশ্যকীয় সেবা ও আশ্রয় প্রদানের মাধ্যমে ধর্ষণের শিকার শিশুদের একটি দলের জন্য বিশেষভাবে কাজ করে যারা অসুরক্ষিত এবং যাদের অধিকার বা উপলব্ধ সেবা সম্পর্কে কোনো জ্ঞান নেই। ও.এস.সি.সি. চট্টগ্রামের মেডিকেল কলেজ হাসপাতাল গুলোতে আক্রান্ত ব্যক্তিকে যে কোনো প্রকার আবশ্যক চিকিৎসা সেবা প্রদান করে। ও.এস.সি.সি. চিকিৎসা বিশেষজ্ঞদেরকে ডাক্তারি এবং ফরেনসিক পরীক্ষা যাচাই করে দেখার জন্যও অনুরোধ করে। এছাড়াও, প্রত্যেক ও.এস.সি.সি. কেন্দ্রের আইনজীবী ও পুলিশ ব্যবস্থাপনার সমর্থন আছে যাতে কেন্দ্র নিজেই যে কোন সময় ধর্ষণ মামলা দায়ের করতে পারেন।
সংক্ষেপে, যৌন বা ঘরোয়া নির্যাতনের শিকার শিশু (ও বয়স্কদের) এক জায়গায় বিনামূল্যে সকল গুরুত্বপূর্ণ চিকিৎসা ও সামাজিক সেবা প্রদান করাই হচ্ছে ও.এস.সি.সি.র উদ্দেশ্য। এভাবে, ধর্ষণের শিকার শিশুদের স্বাস্থ্যসেবা, বৈধ সহযোগিতা, এবং মানসিক সমর্থন দেওয়া হয় যেন তারা শিশু এবং নারী হিসাবে তাদের অহং জোরদার করতে, ধর্ষণের মানসিক ও শারিরীক আঘাত কাটিয়ে উঠতে, এবং জীবন পুনর্নির্মাণ করতে পারে। এইভাবে, ও.এস.সি.সি. নগরের দরিদ্র পরিবারগুলোকে ন্যায়বিচার চাইতে সাহায্য করে যাদের শিশু যৌন সহিংসতার শিকার। ও.এস.সি.সি. মামলা অনুসরণের পাশাপাশি বৃহত্তর দর্শকের কাছে আদালতের রায় প্রচার করার মাধ্যমে, সমাজে ধর্ষণ সম্পর্কে সচেতনতা তৈরি করে এবং ভবিষ্যতে শারীরিক ও যৌন সহিংসতা প্রতিরোধ করতে সাহায্য করে। ২০০৯ সালের শুরু থেকে এখন পর্যন্ত ও.এস.সি.সি ৮৬৫৩ বাংলাদেশী নারী ও শিশুকে সহযোগিতা প্রদান করেছে।
যখন বাংলাদেশে শিশু যৌন সহিংসতার ইস্যু মীমাংসিত থেকে অনেক দূরে, তখন ও.এস.সি.সি. সাহায্য করে যে কিভাবে শিশুর অধিকার সরকার কর্তৃক প্রবর্তিত প্রোগ্রামের মাধ্যমে সমাধান করা যাবে। চট্টগ্রামের ও.এস.সি.সি. ক্ষক্তিগ্রস্থ শিশুদের ব্যপক মানসিক, আইনগত, এবং স্বাস্থ্যের যত্ন প্রদানের কাজ করে, কিন্তু শিশু ধর্ষণ প্রতিরোধের উপর আরও জোর স্থাপন করতে হবে।
Photo credit: BISAP
Anshu Adhikari, Dhaka Community Manager
Child molestation and rape are the extreme physical embodiment of violations of children’s rights. Both have been recognized as issues in Bangladesh: the ASK Documentation Unit reported that 54 infants, 102 minors between the ages of 7 and 12, and 86 teenagers were raped in Bangladesh between January and September 2013. It goes without saying that this figure does not convey the true number of children affected by rape.
In response to this alarming trend of sexual abuse, especially of young girls, the government of Bangladesh put in place One Stop Crisis Centres (OSCC) throughout the country in 2001. In doing so, it followed the recommendations of the Royal Danish Embassy and many NGOs that work with women’s issues. In Chittagong, the OSCC provides comprehensive support to victims of rape and domestic abuse, including health care, shelter services, social services, psychological counselling, legal and police assistance, and DNA tests. Children are one of their largest demographics of victims.
The OSCC has played a particularly vital role in preserving children’s rights in Chittagong because the Chittagong region is filled with garment factories and is surrounded by the hill tract region: children from villages and urban slums come to work in the garment factories, where they often face mistreatment and sexual abuse. Similarly, in the hill tracts, children often become victims in the violence between Bengali settlers and hill tract ethnic groups, as these groups fight for land and property rights. In the conservative society of Chittagong, self-blame, shame, and isolation due to childhood rape are common.
By providing all essential services and shelter to child rape victims in one accessible location, the Chittagong OSCC works specifically for a group that is extremely vulnerable and that has no knowledge of their rights or the services available. The OSCC operates at the medical college hospitals in Chittagong to give victims access to any required medical services. Medical specialists are also asked to visit the OSCC to perform clinical and forensic examinations. Alongside this medical support, every OSCC has the support of lawyers and a police constable, so that the Centre itself can file rape cases immediately.
In short, the motive of the OSCC is to provide all crucial medical and social services to child (and adult) victims of sexual or domestic abuse free of charge and in one place. As such, victims of molestation and rape are given the health care, legal aid, and psychological support necessary to strengthen their confidence, cope with the trauma of rape, and rebuild their lives. The OSCCs thereby enable poor urban families to seek justice when their children are the victims of sexual violence. Because they follow up with cases and disseminate judicial judgments to larger audiences, OSCCs also create awareness about rape and help prevent physical and sexual violence. Since the beginning of 2009, the OSCC has served 8,653 women and children in Bangladesh.
While the issue of sexual violence directed at children is far from solved in Bangladesh, the OSCC provides an example of how children’s rights can be explicitly addressed through a government-initiated program. Further emphasis must be placed on prevention, but the Chittagong OSCC shows the value of comprehensive psychological, legal, and health care support for child victims of abuse.
Photo credit: BISAP
María Fernanda Carvallo, Gestor Comunitario de Mexico D.F.
En al año 2001 se constituyó la Red por los Derechos de la Infancia en México (REDIM). Es una sinergia de 73 organizaciones que buscan que se adopte la Convención de los Derechos de los Niños en los marcos legales de México y en el diseño de políticas públicas dirigidas a los niños.
Entre los programas de REDIM se encuentran: la construcción de una agenda de políticas públicas sobre la infancia y sus derechos; propuestas para la legislación sobre derechos de la infancia; talleres, materiales de análisis, y producción de conocimiento dirigidos a padres, escuelas, instituciones y a la sociedad en general, y también vigilancia y defensoría de los derechos de la niñez.
En el marco de la difusión de los derechos de la infancia, REDIM lanzó la campaña, “Las niñas también cuentan”, en la que uno de los argumentos centrales es que las mujeres que fueron víctimas de violencia en su infancia, son más propensas a serlo en la etapa adulta. La campaña se llevó a cabo a través de foros así como cápsulas y entrevistas radiofónicas difundidas en el marco del día Internacional Contra la Violencia de Género.
Otra de las campañas, “Infancia sin violencia”, pretende visualizar y medir el fenómeno de la violencia infantil para detenerlo, a través de tres pasos. En primer lugar, difundir la situación actual de la violencia contra los niños a través de un portal web. En segundo lugar, involucrar a las personas para que compartan la información en redes sociales. Finalmente, generar un mecanismo para que la población reporte casos de violencia contra la niñez.
Así mismo, REDIM y UNICEF generaron una iniciativa llamada “10 por la Infancia”. La iniciativa tiene medidas estratégicas para avanzar en la defensa de los derechos de las niñas, niños y adolescentes con el apoyo de las instituciones gubernamentales, congresos locales y federal, y la sociedad civil. En abril del 2013 el Jefe de Gobierno del Distrito Federal firmó el acuerdo para la adopción de los 10 pasos:
1. Garantizar a todos los niños salud y nutrición adecuadas en la primera infancia;
2. Asegurar el acceso a agua potable y alimentos saludables en escuelas;
3. Otorgar actas de nacimiento gratuitas a todos los niños durante el primer año de vida;
4. Garantizar una educación de calidad para niños y adolescentes en el país, especialmente para discapacitados;
5. Garantizar apoyos para que los adolescentes ingresen y terminen la escuela media superior;
6. Abrir espacios de participación para adolescentes
7. Asegurar que los adolescentes cuenten con información y servicios de salud sexual y reproductiva;
8. Impulsar la aprobación de la Ley Federal de Justicia para Adolescentes y su efectiva implementación;
9. Proteger contra la violencia en la familia, la escuela y la comunidad;
10. Presentar una iniciativa de Ley General sobre Derechos de la Infancia y la Adolescencia.
Así mismo, respecto a las acciones de incidencia en política pública, las OSCs participantes han generado diversas propuestas de políticas, además del continuo debate y posicionamiento de las sugerencias a través del proyecto “Por una Ley de Altura”; cuyo objetivo es difundir los contenidos, efectos e impacto de la Ley General de Protección a la Niñez que fue aprobada por la Cámara de Diputados, así como las áreas que requieren reestructurase para la creación de una ley integral para una mejor protección de la niñez.
A través de la labor de la red, se ha logrado ampliar el conocimiento sobre la infancia y sus derechos, fortalecer la capacidad de organizaciones de la sociedad civil, e impulsar mecanismos legales para garantizar el cumplimiento y respeto de los derechos de la infancia.
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María Fernanda Carvallo, Mexico City Community Manager
The Red por los Derechos de la Infancia en México — REDIM (Network for Children’s Rights in Mexico) was established in 2001. It is a synergy of 73 organizations seeking to adopt the Convención de los Derechos de los Niños (Convention of Children’s Rights) in the Mexican legal framework, as well as in the design of public policies directly related to children.
The REDIM programs include building a public policy agenda about childhood and its rights, proposals for legislation on children’s rights, and workshops for creating awareness amongst parents, schools, institutions, and society about advocacy for children’s rights.
In an attempt to spread the word about children’s rights, REDIM launched the campaign, “Girls Count Too,” in which one of the central arguments is that women who were victims of violence during childhood are more likely to be victims of violence in adulthood. The campaign took place through forums and radio interviews, creating awareness about the International Day Against Gender Violence.
“Childhood without Violence” is a three-step campaign that aims to visualize and measure the phenomenon of childhood violence in order to stop it. First, it spreads the word about childhood violence through an online portal. Secondly, the campaign encourages the public to share information about childhood violence on social networks. Lastly, it creates a mechanism for citizens to report cases of childhood violence.
Furthermore, REDIM and UNICEF have launched an initiative called “10 for Childhood.” The program has strategic measures to advance the rights of children and adolescents with the support of government institutions, local and federal congresses, and civil society. In April 2013, the Head of the Federal District Government signed an agreement for the adoption of the ten points:
1. Ensure the health and nutrition of all young children;
2. Ensure access to safe water and healthy food in schools;
3. Provide free birth certificates to all children during their first year of life;
4. Ensure a quality education for children and adolescents, especially for the disabled;
5. Ensure support for adolescents entering and completing middle and high school;
6. Open participation spaces for adolescents;
7. Ensure that adolescents have information and services related to sexual and reproductive health;
8. Promote the adoption of the Federal Law of Justice for Adolescents and its effective implementation;
9. Protect against violence in families, schools, and communities;
10. Draft the General Law initiative protecting Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights.
With respect to public policy advocacy, participating civil society organizations have generated diverse policy proposals and the project “Por una Ley de Altura” (“For a Height Act”), which aims to disseminate the contents, effects, and impacts of the General Law on Childhood Protection that was passed by the House of Representatives. This law also details the areas that require restructuring in order to create a comprehensive law to better protect children from violence.
REDIM has been successful in expanding on the knowledge about children and their rights; they have also strengthened the capacity of civil society organizations, and promoted legal mechanisms to ensure compliance and respect for children’s rights.
Carlin Carr, Mumbai Community Manager
In February 2010, 12-year-old Rouvanjit Rawla, a student at a prestigious school in Kolkata, committed suicide after being humiliated and caned by his principal. The Rawla incident set off a firestorm of controversy over widespread accounts of corporal punishment in India’s schools — from the most elite institutions to those run by the government. The Ministry of Women and Child Development subsequently banned physical punishment of students, stating of the consequences, “The first violation of the ban will invite up to one year in jail, or a fine of Rs. 50,000 or both. For subsequent violations, imprisonment could be extended to three years with an additional fine of 25,000 rupees,” says an article on the issue. Despite the measures, reports of students continuing to receive harsh physical and verbal abuses from their superiors continue to plague India’s school system.
A study conducted last year by the Parent-Teacher Association United Forum found that 100 percent of the 150 teachers they interviewed had used corporal punishment on their students. “The findings left school principals shocked,” says a Times of India report on the issue. The principals may not have known of the extent of the issue, because few incidents were actually being reported to them, neither by the students nor by the parents. Often, parents supported the idea of punishment by the teachers, stating that the child likely deserved it.
Pratham, one of the country’s leading education organizations, says that violence against children in many forms has been “alarmingly” on the rise. In response, Pratham’s Council for Vulnerable Children has partnered with child’s rights groups and government bodies to launch a campaign in Mumbai called “Children First.” Though still in the works, the initiative plans to tackle violence against children in two phases. The first will focus on “creating safety nets within the community by institutionalizing existing groups like child protection vigilance groups.” This phase will also advocate for policy and legal changes to protect child rights and also raise awareness around the issues. Phase two will tackle public institutions in which children engage on a daily basis, including schools, public spaces and public transport. “We are aiming at strengthening the current action along with starting new initiatives to address the issues of quality care and abuse,” says Pratham.
Meanwhile, Delhi High Court has taken action to protect the city’s children. In July, the court asked city officials to come up with a plan for a “zero tolerance” policy to put an end to abuses against students. The rules are to be framed and put up visibly in all schools. At the same time, teachers will need to undergo training to learn alternative actions to handle students and their classrooms. Some principals have already begun training teachers to discuss issues with students or have them write out what they did wrong.
Schools are meant to be safe spaces, and every child has the right to learn without fear of abuse. India is not alone in the situation; in fact, corporal punishment is still legal in 20 states in the U.S. The New York Times held an online debate on the issue; since hitting is still accepted by some communities, especially in the southern states, the practices continues. What are your thoughts? Should corporal punishment be banned outright? Is there ever a place for it? How has your community handled it?
Photo credit: Satish Krishnamurthy
Felix Nyamedor, Accra City Community Manager
Many of Accra’s street children are migrants from other parts of Ghana who followed others in the name of greener pastures. Other street children were trafficked to the city centre by older people and were left to fend for themselves. These children find ways to survive by engaging in activities ranging from being porters to selling goods on the street. The boys often earn money by shining shoes, pushing trucks, gathering refuse and carrying it to the dump site. Many also trade sex for money. In reaction to these alarming hardships, a number of important organizations are working to give these street children a voice, using a number of different approaches.
The core mandate of the government-owned Osu Children’s Home is to take children from the street and provide them with appropriate care. The goal is to afford them hope for a better future and to fully reintegrate all children admitted into the home into mainstream society. After working with the children, they are reintegrated into their families. Unfortunately, this is the home’s only option, because of lack of funding and challenges in maintaining the home.
The Hope for the Nations organization, which runs the Agape Children’s Home, represents another model. The program rescues children from street life and provides foster parents to care for them. Each child lives in a separate family unit with foster parents and up to six other children. The children interact with the rest of the home’s community on a daily basis, and communication with relatives is encouraged to give support to the children.
Plan Ghana and the Street Children Empowerment Foundation work together to organize events for street children to discuss “streetism,” its causes, effects, and solutions. Child ambassadors meet with street children to discuss these issues and how to partner to end “streetism.” Many street children in Accra have been reintegrated to their families through this process.
A final, education-based model is put into action with The Universal Wonderful Street Academy, which takes children from the streets into classrooms, where they are educated, clothed, and fed with one meal a day at no cost.
These organizations are using a variety of complementary approaches to provide a deserved future for Accra’s street children.
Photo credit: Ojewsika
Widya Anggraini, Jakarta Community Manager
Komisi Nasional Perlindungan Anak melaporkan sedikitnya ada 2.637 kasus kekerasan terhadap anak sepanjang tahun 2012 dan 62 persen diantaranya merupakan kekerasan seksual terhadap anak dimana mayoritas korban berasal dari kalangan ekonomi menengah ke bawah. Tren kasus kekerasan terhadap anak meningkat tiap tahunnya. Tingginya angka kekerasan ini menunjukkan betapa buruknya perlindungan anak dan minimnya kebijakan yang berpihak terhadap anak. Secara nasional, negara merespon dengan mengeluarkan undang-undang perlindungan anak yang menyatakan dengan jelas bahwa negara menjamin dan melindungi anak dan hak-haknya agar dapat hidup, tumbuh, berkembang secara optimal serta mendapat perlindungan dari kekerasan dan diskriminasi. Munculnya Undang-undang ini diikuti oleh keluarnya peraturan standar minimum pelayanan terpadu bagi perempuan dan anak korban kekerasan.
Yang menarik dari standar minimum pelayanan ini adalah kewajiban bagi tiap daerah untuk menyediakan Pusat Pelayanan Terpadu (one stop service) atau PPT untuk korban kekerasan. PPT ini sendiri akan melibatkan rumah sakit, puskesmas, unit pelayanan perempuan dan anak yang berbasis di kantor polisi, lembaga bantuan hukum, trauma center, rumah perlindungan anak (shelter) dan jejaring lain yang dapat membantu proses penyembuhan korban.
Untuk wilayah DKI Jakarta sendiri telah membentuk Pusat Pelayanan Terpadu Pemberdayaan Perempuan dan Anak (P2TP2A). Institusi ini memiliki beragam program dan layanan termasuk Hotline service 24 jam bagi para korban, pendampingan litigasi dan non litigasi, penanganna tahap awal bagi korban, penanganan tahap lanjutan serta pendidikan bagi relawan P2TP2A tentang penanganan korban kekerasan terhadap anak dan perempuan.
Ilustrasinya adalah seperti berikut : korban bisa melapor melalui layanan hotline 24 jam atau datang langsung ke kantor P2TP2A, setelah melalui proses registrasi maka seseorang di P2TP2A akan mencatat laporan dan memberikan masukan sebagai bagian dari rencana intervensi. Bentuk intervensi bermacam-macam tergantung keinginan dan kebutuhan korban serta masukan dari ahli. Beberapa jenis pelayanan yang tersedia adalah (1) pendampingan dan bantuan hukum dengan mitra Unit Perlindungan Perempuan dan Anak di Polda Metro Jaya dan Polres wilayah; (2) pelayanan kesehatan dengan mitra dinas kesehatan melalui rumah sakit dan puskesmas kecamatan; (3) Pelayanan Psikososial diberikan oleh psikolog klinis dari P2TP2A; (4) Pelayanan rumah aman dengan mitra dari DInas Sosial dan Departemen sosial; (5) Pemulangan dan Reintegrasi dengan mitra pemerintah daerah asal korban yang masuk dalam daftar Mitra Praja Utama di 10 provinsi.
Menurut data P2TP2A DKI Jakarta sejak tahun 2007-2012 telah masuk total 7.726 kasus kekerasan yang dikerjakan bersama mitra. Dari total jumlah pelapor, 26 persen merupakan kasus kekerasan terhadap anak. Semua kasus tersebut diterima dan telah ditangani oleh P2TPA bersama mitra. Mengingat kasus kekerasan terhadap anak di jakarta tahun 2012 meningkat dua kali lipat dibandingkan tahun 2010 dengan modus operandi yang kian beragam maka masyarakat diimbau agar tidak segan melapor jika terjadi kekerasan anak sebab kini pelaku kekerasan, terutama kekerasan seksual, kerap adalah keluarga dekat seperti ayah kandung, ayah tiri, paman bahkan guru. Selain itu, P2TP2A juga memiliki relawan di tiap desa dan kecamatan untuk memantau dan melaporkan jika terjadi kekerasan di wilayahnya.
Foto: Wonosobo
Widya Anggraini, Jakarta Community Manager
The National Commission for Child Protection reported at least 2,637 cases of violence against children in 2012 with 62 percent comprising of sexual abuse cases, in which the majority of the victims are from the middle and lower classes. Cases of child violence have seen an upward trend and are increasing each year. This high rate of violence points to the appalling state of child protection and to the lack of policies directed towards it. On a national level, the state has responded by issuing a child protection act which makes clear their guarantee to protect children and their rights in order for them to live, grow, achieve optimal development, and receive protection from violence and discrimination. The emergence of this act was followed by the issuance of minimum integrated service standard policies for women and child victims of violence.
What is interesting about this minimum service standard is the obligation of each region to provide One Stop Service Centers (Pusat Pelayanan Terpadu, or PPT) for victims of violence. The PPT involves hospitals, health centers, women and child service units based in police stations, legal aid, trauma centers, child shelters, and other networks which assist with the victims’ healing process.
In the Jakarta region, a One Stop Service Center for Women and Children (P2TP2A) has been established. This institution has a variety of programs and services, including a 24-hour service hotline for victims, litigation and non-litigation assistance, and handling of the early stages as well as the advanced stages of educating P2TP2A volunteers on women and child victims of violence.
The program works as follows: the victim may make a report via the 24-hour service hotline or go directly to the P2TP2A office after undergoing a registration process, where an associate makes a record of the report and provides input as part of the intervention plan. The form of intervention varies depending on the wants and needs of the victims as well as input from the experts. Some of the types of services available are (1) mentoring and legal assistance in collaboration with the Women and Children Protection Unit in the Jakarta Police institution; (2) health services through the program’s partnerships with hospitals and district health centers, (3) psychological services provided by a clinical psychologist from P2TP2A; (4) home safety services through their partners in Social Services and the Social Department; (5) Return and Reintegration of victims through local government partners.
According to data collected by P2TP2A and their partners, Jakarta recorded a total of 7,726 cases of violence in 2007-2012. Of the total number reported, 26 percent were cases of violence against children. All cases were received and handled by P2TP2A and their partners. Bearing in mind that in 2012, cases of violence against children in Jakarta had doubled since 2010, with an increasingly diverse modus operandi, it is recommended that the community not hesitate to report any instances of child abuse as offenders, especially sexual violence offenders, are often close relatives such as fathers, stepfathers, uncles and even teachers. To help with on-the-ground monitoring, the P2TP2A has volunteers in each village and district to monitor and report any cases of violence.
Photo: Wonosobo
Catalina Gomez, Coordenadora da Rede em São Paulo
Assegurar que as crianças e adolescentes tenham seus direitos assegurados e protegidos de qualquer forma de violência deveria ser uma prioridade de todos os países. Neste sentido, Brasil vem fazendo vários esforços que envolvem a parceria entre o governo e a sociedade civil, nos níveis nacionais e municipais.
Um dos esforços mais importantes no reconhecimento dos direitos das crianças e adolescentes tem sido a aprovação do Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente (ECA) em 1990. O ECA é um conjunto de normas que detalham os direitos das crianças e identificam os protocolos de atenção nos casos de violência, delinquência e justiça de menores.
Baseado no ECA, as autoridades brasileiras tem criado uma rede pública de proteção ás crianças e adolescentes de qualquer forma de violência, abuso e negligencia. O ponto focal desta rede é o Conselho Tutelar, uma entidade descentralizada e autônoma, encarregada pela sociedade de zelar pelo cumprimento dos direitos da criança e do adolescente. Segundo a lei, cada município deve ter pelo menos um conselho em funcionamento.
O ECA também detalha que cada Conselho Tutelar esteja conformado por cinco membros eleitos pela comunidade a cada três anos. Os conselheiros são posições pagas que requerem de conhecimento dos direitos das crianças. Aquele arranjo promove a participação da sociedade civil, incluindo líderes comunitários e representantes de ONGs que tem bom conhecimento de suas comunidades e suas necessidades.
São Paulo tem vários arranjos para responder á violência contra as crianças, incluindo 44 Conselhos Tutelares localizados no todo seu território. O mandado destes conselhos é coordenar esforços entre o governo e a sociedade civil em torno aos direitos das crianças. Alguns dos principais órgãos que trabalham na rede são a policia, a Secretaria Municipal de Assistência Social e o Ministério Público.
A cidade também tem 26 Centros de Referencia Especializada da Assistência Social (CREAS), que tem como objetivo providenciar assistência de meia e alta complexidade para as crianças e famílias vitimas de violência e abuso. Para aquelas crianças que tem sido vitimas, os CREAS providenciam conselheiros e referencia a abrigos temporários públicos sem custo.
Bem, temos a rede e a oferta de serviços públicos que atendem casos de violência. Mais existe muito trabalho pela frente. Por exemplo, ainda é preciso gerar uma parceria mais sólida entre o governo e a sociedade civil na prevenção e atenção da violência contra as crianças. Também é uma prioridade treinar, capacitar e conceder pleno reconhecimento aos membros do Conselho Tutelar nas suas funções. Finalmente é preciso gerar maior conhecimento e compreensão sobre as varias dimensões da violência contra as crianças e suas causas para dar respostas mais eficientes e integrais.
Catalina Gomez, São Paulo Community Manager
Ensuring that all children and adolescents have their basic rights met and are protected from any form of violence must be a priority in every country. In Brazil, a number of efforts have been taking place over the years and involve collaboration among government institutions and civil society, both at the national and city levels.
One of the main milestones in recognizing children’s and adolescents’ rights was the approval of the Child and Adolescent Statute in 1990. This statute compiles a series of laws and regulations spelling out the rights of children, as well as identifying the minimum standards and protocols for managing situations of violence, delinquency, and justice for minors.
Based on the statute, Brazilian authorities created a specialized public network for child protection, not only from violence but from any form of abuse or neglect. The main focal point of this network is the Guardian Council (Conselho Tutelar). The Council is a decentralized and autonomous entity that ensures overall compliance with the rights of minors. According to the law, every city must have at least one functioning council.
The law also mandates that each Guardian Council is formed by five elected members of the community for a period of three years. These are paid positions that require specialized knowledge of children’s and adolescents’ rights. Such arrangement promotes civil society representation in Guardian Councils, including community leaders and NGO representatives, who best know the conditions of their own communities, and the challenges faced to ensure children’s and adolescents’ well-being in their neighborhoods.
As Brazil’s biggest city, São Paulo has several initiatives that deal with child violence. To start with, it has not one, but 44 Guardian Councils, which are located throughout the city so they can ensure adequate and localized efforts towards protecting children from violence. The Councils don’t deliver counseling or provide any direct services — instead, they coordinate efforts by government and civil society to prevent and combat child violence in the city. Some of the key actors that support the Council’s work include the police, the municipal secretariat of social assistance, and the public prosecutor.
The city also has 26 Specialized Social Assistance Centers, known as CREAS, which support children and families that have been victims of violence and abuse. For those children, the CREAS provide counseling and references to adequate shelter services from a network of public services, all for free.
The networks are in place, and there is a public supply of specialized services. But let’s face the truth: there are still many challenges ahead in the fight against child violence. First, there is a need for even more collaboration and support among government and civil society organizations to act at the neighborhood level in the prevention of child violence. Secondly, there is a need for more recognition and training for the Guardian Council members, who in many cases are not able to comply with their mandates due to the lack of human and financial resources. Finally, there needs to be greater knowledge and understanding of the various dimensions of violence and their root causes to provide better and more comprehensive responses.