UNICEF: CAPPING VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN

By Melati Mohd Ariff

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- Almost 53,000 children died worldwide in
2002 as a result of homicide. Studies from many countries around the world also
suggested that up to 80 to 98 per cent of children suffer physical punishment in
their homes.

According to 2002's estimates of World Health Organisation (WHO), 150
million girls and 73 million boys under 18, experienced forced sexual
intercourse or other forms of sexual violence.

Recent International Labour Organisation (ILO)'s indicate, in 2004, 218
million children were involved in child labour, out of which 126 million were in
hazardous employment.

Meanwhile, estimates from 2000 suggests that 5.7 million children ended up
in forced or bonded labour, 1.8 million in prostitution and pornography, and 1.2
million were victims of trafficking.

The above statistics were some of the startling findings emerging from a
Report of the independent expert for the United Nations Secretary-General's
study on Violence against Children, completed in 2006.

"No violence against children is justifiable and that all violence against
children is preventable. Yet such violence exists in every country of the world,
cutting across culture, class, education, income and ethnic origin," said
Youssouf Oomar, United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) Representative to
Malaysia, echoing the sentiment contained in the UN Report.

From the statistics, it could be deduced that the violence committed against
children globally, ranged from neglect, cruel and humiliating punishment, sexual
abuse to homicide.

Based on the study commissioned by the UN, such violent acts were influenced
by many factors including personal characteristics of the victims and the
perpetrator and their cultural and physical environments.

It also found that more often than not, many victims were too afraid to
report incidents of violents against them.

In numerous instances, parents who should be protecting the children, chose
to keep silent particularly if the violence was perpetrated by a spouse or their
own family members.

To them, the safety and well-being of the violated children, were secondary,
especially if the violence was related to rape or other forms of sexual abuse.
Stigmatisation and safeguarding the family honour was the priority.

Another important factor to this silence game was societal acceptance of
such violence, a clear cut contradiction to human rights obligations and the
need for children's development.

According to the UN Report, discipline through physical and humiliating
punishment, bullying and sexual harassment are frequently perceived as normal,
as long as there is no visible or lasting physical injury.

Violence also became invisible as there was no safe or trusted ways for
children or adults to report on the incidence.

POSITIVE WAYS
Focussing on child abuse, Oomar who is also Unicef's Special Representative
to Brunei, firmly believed that there are other positive ways to correct a
child.

"Some say they have to hit their child to correct the child and it is an
acceptable practice but there are better means to do so. One of the positive
ways is to sit with the child and make the child understand.

"Get to understand why the child is acting in such a strange way which you
do not like, which may be against your principle. Understand that child, maybe
that child needs affection more than the beating," he explained to Bernama in an
interview at his office here recently.

Oomar said treating the child with affection would make that child to change
gradually as the child craves for attention and affection.

He said abusers of children should start to question their act whether they
are a citizen of a sane society and that society should reject such a despicable
behaviour.

Some people, he believed abused children out of frustration and others did
so because those were some practices which had been there for a long time.

RELEVANT CHANGES
Oomar also said that the reported cases on abused children including in
Malaysia is only 'the tip of the iceberg', involving people who took the courage
to report.

"How many cases are not being reported? Is it three times, four times or
more? We need to look at some of the laws and its enforcement.

"Why is it children continued to be kidnapped , or disappear. Lets apply the
rule of the laws. For example, there is a Child's Act in this country and we
find it unacceptable babies being dumped. Anybody who did that should be behind
bars," he said.

However, Oomar stressed the responsibility of addressing the issues on child
abuses should not be shouldered by the government alone. Every citizen should
assume equal responsibility and respond effectively to apprehend the issue and
other challenges.

BETTER SYSTEM
Oomar noted that more people are coming out to inform cases of abuse on
children these days with better understanding on the issue and a more efficient
reporting system.

"Now we see better systems being in placed which guarantee to safeguard the
identity of the victims. A lot of progress have been done as we see governments
coming up with child protection policies which was lacking before in most
countries.

"There have been a lot of investment in training whether it is the police
force, teachers and through NGOs. There have been more advocacy and I am
especially impressed with parents themselves.

"We also see more efforts at both the UN and national levels of all
governments of the world. The UN Report on violence against children for
instance provide us with the information to better understand the different
types of abuses and the reasons for the abuses. We have seen it is also linked
to poverty," he added.

He also lauded the increased interest of religious leaders in issues of
violence against children.

Previously, he said some religious leaders used their religious perception
not to condone violence against children but to keep quiet.

"Those are some of the good signs but I must admit we have a long way to go
because there are other pressures like population which contribute to some of
the situations including poverty.

"If we can pull our people from the shackle of poverty, they will be better
equipped to cater for their children," he said.

Oomar however explained that reducing poverty is not only in terms of money
or the purchasing power but also addressing issues related to quality services,
health care, schools and other basic social ammenities.

GREATEST SATISFACTION
Oomar has been in Malaysia for the past one and a half years. He has also
worked in other countries including the Ivory Coast when the country was at war.

He said even during such traumatic times when the people were living in
tents, through Unicef's programmes, the children still found themselves in
school.

"If it is not done, the children will lose five or six years of school. If
they become drop outs, they will engage in nuisance so you need to keep them in
schools.

"It is not the fault of the child that there is a conflict or a problem. Why
should the child be the first to suffer. It is totally unfair," he said.

After years of working with Unicef, Oomar described there was improved
awareness on the need to do more for children these days, as his greatest
satisfaction.

Nevertheless, he said, working for children is not mere work.

"It is a dedication, it is a cause. It is not also because you are being
paid. You do it because you love what you do and you know what you are doing is
the right thing and you want to do it right.

"You have to be passionate, or else you will not succeed. It takes a lot of
courage and a lot of risks because if we do not take risk, we will not see the
result.

"When you see the result of your efforts and you become very passionate
about it, that is the key to the success of your work. This is the biggest thing
you can think of, in terms of keeping that smile on the face of the child,"
added Oomar.
-- BERNAMA