Children suffer many of the same human rights abuses as adults, but may also be targeted simply because they are dependent and vulnerable. Many times in many nations, children are tortured and mistreated by state officials; they are arbitrarily or lawfully detained, often in appalling conditions. In some countries, they are subjected to the death penalty. Countless thousands are killed or maimed in armed conflicts. Many more have fled their homes to become refugees. Children forced by poverty or abuse to live on the streets are sometimes detained, attacked, and even killed in the name of social cleansing. Many millions of children work at exploitative or hazardous jobs, or are the victims of child trafficking and forced prostitution. Because children are "easy targets", they are sometimes threatened, beaten, or raped in order to punish family members who are not so accessible.
The spectrum of abuses faced by children in the family and community ranges from ill-treatment in institutions to violence within the family, from child trafficking to child bonded labor. The vulnerability of children to such abuses often depends on other aspects of their identity such as gender, ethnicity, or economic status. This is a powerful reminder of the indivisibility of human rights. The denial of one set of rights leads to the abuse of others. Children denied an education because they are girls or because they are poor and forced to work are condemned to a cycle of marginalization, poverty, and powerlessness that involves further violations of their civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.
Stand up for the basic human rights of children – the right to life, the right to be with family and community, the right to health, the right to development of personality, and the right to be nurtured and protected – since the children are too small to stand up for themselves.
Humankind owes the child the best it has to give!
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Women Trafficking & Child Labor Eradication: www.wotclef.org
9 comments:
I stand besides your post. Human Rights especially our Children "the future" should be given Priority. as they are one holding life's for tomorrow.
Thank you. Children ARE our future. There's no other way to look at things.
Thanks Kimba for being so eloquent and passionate about this subject. You brought tears to my eyes. Well done!
Aww Loraleigh, you're so sweet - but I really just relayed info that's readily available to the public-at-large from any human rights agency monitoring these situations in the world, hoping to make a difference.
I hate when children are use for war because adult would used them for their gain. Children doesn't know what is wrong or right.
Will Work for Cheesecake
Me, too. Children are not pawns to be moved by adults to whatever position in life the adult chooses - as if life were a game of chess. Life is not a game at all, and it's unfair to manipulate humans in that fashion.
Excellent post Kimba. I wish all who buy at Wal-Mart, all who love their cheap Chineese goods would think along these lines before entering Wal-Mart's doors. They won't though, thoughts of American complicity will foster guilt and we can't have that.
Wonderful post. If nothing touches anyone's heart then just tell them to remember these poor children eventually become adults, if they survive, and you end up with a damaged adult ... a perpetual cycle of misery we bring upon ourselves when we do not protect the children.
KAK - it's very nice to hear from you. Thanks so much for dropping by, and reading and commenting!
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Cooper - you are very right. Without making the conscious effort for CHANGE, the vicious cycle will continue. I believe society as a whole deserves better than to repeat the same mistakes again and again. I want MORE than that, for my children to live in as adults.
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