World Human Rights Day: 82% of young people have witnessed child rights violations

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The above results from a poll conducted through the “U-Report Greece” platform of UNICEF and the Network for the Rights of the Child

82% of teenagers and young people state that they have witnessed a violation of another child’s rights, while the number of young people who are sufficiently informed about children’s rights, as they are formulated in the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, is small.

The above results from a poll conducted through the “U-Report Greece” platform of UNICEF and the Network for the Rights of the Child, which gives a platform to teenagers and young people to express their opinions on issues that concern them. 384 teenagers and young people, aged 14-34, from all over Greece participated in this poll. 65% of participants were aged 15-19.

58% of the poll participants believe that children’s fundamental rights are partially respected in practice, 21% that all of them are respected and 13% that none of the children’s rights are respected.

71% were present at a violation of a child’s rights but did not react, either because they were afraid or because they did not know how to react, while only 11% were present and reacted, informing a responsible adult. 18% of participants stated that no violation has occurred in front of them.

Young people were asked if they know what a child should do if their rights are violated and 67% answered that they should talk to a competent body or authority, 28% to parents and 5% to teachers.

When asked if the participants are aware of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has been the law of Greece for 30 years, the answers were divided. 31% answered that they know her, 34% that they do not know her and 35% that they have heard something, but would like to know more. Accordingly, 46% stated that they know some of the rights contained in the Convention, but not all, only 12% consider that they know the rights of the Convention, while 25% stated that they do not know them and 16% that they are not sure /sure.

26% think they will find information about children’s rights at school, 24% on social media, 31% on non-governmental organization websites and 5% that they will ask a friend or relative. 14% state that they do not know where to find information.

Young people call for the design of a national strategy to improve the lives of children and young people (41%), adequate laws to protect children’s rights (22%), the cultivation of a culture that promotes children’s rights (21%) and sufficient information of all agencies regarding children’s rights (9%).

“The poll clearly highlights the need for systematic and continuous education on the subject of children’s rights”, observes the director of the Network for the Rights of the Child, Panos Christodoulou, speaking to APE-MPE. As he adds, “unfortunately, the majority of young people who participated in the survey know nothing or know very little about the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the fact that it is also a law in Greece. This highlights the problem in education, but also in the mentality of previous generations and rulers, as it is not a priority. It is also important to mention that teenagers and young people do not know where they can find information about the rights that directly concern them”.

He describes as encouraging “the fact that the same children who do not know their rights in depth, want education and specific actions related to their rights and realize that in order for them to be respected in practice there must be the development of a national strategy and culture in favor of rights ».

On the occasion of World Children’s Rights Day on November 20, but also today’s World Human Rights Day, “children show us the way. Combined with the ongoing cases of abuse and other violations of children’s rights coming to light, the above investigation is a good reason to finally listen to the children and take action”, concludes the director of the Network.

It is noted that the U-Report platform was created by Unicef ​​in 2011 and is used by more than 20 million children and young people aged 14-35 in 91 countries, in order to express their views on political and social issues that concern them. In Greece, the platform works in collaboration with the Network for the Rights of the Child.

The specific poll will be presented at an event on Tuesday, December 13, 12-2 pm, at the Spiritual Center of the municipality of Athens. The Children’s Advocate, Theoni Koufonikolakou, will participate in the event to comment on the results of the poll and discuss with three U-Reporters.

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