According to the united nations
A child means every human being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier.
Children are
(1) being obliged to be part of a prostitution network, Do you realize that 14 years old girls are being obliged for 5000 Lira to sell their bodies? (Badaoui area has a network... those girls are analphabets and deprived from every form of Human and/or Children Rights)Reasons: Poverty, people without education, people without dignity, people having no support whatsoever... (2) being obliged to part of a beggars network Lebanon set a "moutassawilin law" such a ridiculous law. Beggars are punished instead of a planing like in India (CityBank launched a G8 planning supporting beggars with small loans without an interest rate, those loans lead beggars into the labor market as they begin their own handwork or business and sell their works instead of begging for money). When parents have sufficient money, children automatically have better lives and are not abused.
(3) being obliged to part of a thief network
yeah, children raised to be thieves... Scandaleous but real just in the case of beggars... thieving children are not put in prison but in "ta2dib" as in point 1 and this has terrible consequences, instead of becoming better individuals they sink in criminality
(4) live in complete poverty
Consequences of complete poverty: Poverty in early life stages is often crucial for the subsequent development. Children and adolescents who grow up in poverty, have disadvantages in educational and occupational terms. A low educational attainment reduces the labor market opportunities, thus a potentially lower income and a higher poverty risk.
Children also face restrictions in social interactions, self-confidence sinks, knowledge is limited to the minimum.
(5) being obliged to become children soldiers/participate in wars of adults
I personally faced severe "finger pointing" when I criticized certain parties carrying guns in Lebanon. (1) The army is supposed to protect the country from foreign forces, (2) Abuse of children and their exploitation is forbidden even if some ideologies consider children martyrdom as great, it opposes the children will (3) Children Rights are not being respected when children are involved in wars of adults (abused as shields or even as soldiers). What remains is an appeal to the conscious of those who do not respect children and prefer "pointing fingers" towards others instead of making an auto-critic and realize that people who criticize this children abuse are the ones in the right position defending this helpless child in our society (with disregard what colour ethinicity or religion this child is).
(6) being obliged to labor
Children labor in Lebanon begins at very young age, noticeable on the streets with children at the age of 6-7 years selling Chiclets or those who work as "cleaners" in diverse offices/industries at the age of 10. Children labor is forbidden in countries which respect human dignity, only at the age of 16 and above in the worse case is it tolerable to have children initiate working. Often it has to do with death of a parent or complete poverty of parents.
(7) being obliged to marriage
In 2009 there are still arranged marriages in Lebanon, girls are the victims in this case. Virginity is still a big issue in Lebanon. Marriage between family members (Almost Incest) is still existent. This is also a stricking violation of a child's will. Traditions and religious backgrounds are the reasons.
(8) live in insecure situations as young refugees
During wars occuring in Lebanon, Lebanese children endure severe insecurity, are relocated from their homes and live in trauma. Also refugees like palestinian children live in insecurity leading to a hostile aggressive behavior. This induces massive criminality in the society
(9) being obliged to live in hostility in adult life adjusted society, left to a foreigner house assistant
The emotional aspect here is influential. Lebanon lacks children parks, children friendly locations, children friendly politics. Often children are taken care of by foreign house assistants (Philippines, Ethiopian, Srilankese, etc.) having a great effect on their emotional development. This results in having adults unable to maintain partnerships, leading to high rates of divorce/cheating etc.
(10) Used as a "target" of advertising and consumer / commercialization of childhood
The advertising industry is annually investing huge sums in order to target children and adolescents. Surveys of the advertising industry show the purchasing power of this target group. In addition, children and young people are violently wooed aas influencers in consumption decisions of their parents and as future "long carreer consumers".
The eager possession of certain consumer goods and brands early dominate children, already in kindergarten age and primary school age. Certain brands symbolize lifestyles for children. Advertising agencies work on such mechanisms and use children. The issue of affordability creates a society loaded with debts and superficial values.
(11) being obliged to live as street children
Although in Lebanon there are some "religious" and few "civil" child care homes, some children in Lebanon, remain homeless, living on the street. However, there are less street children in Lebanon then in other LDCs.
I propose a petition in order to pass a bill carrying the following points as
the Basic children's rights:
- The Right to a violence-free education
Create massive awareness that parents should not use any kind of violence against their children, same goes to teachers/others in contact with children.
Create massive awareness through media support for children to understand that they have the RIGHT of a VIOLENCE-Free Education.
- Protection against exploitation
Register all children through municipalities (i.e. register all children living in those municipalities) and have a regular control by inviting the children to reading book evenings, movie day, lunch day etc. and make sure that children are not exploited to beggar/prostitution/thieving/etc through intensive interaction, observation through psychologists, noticing behavior abnormality and tackling its roots with delicatesse and understanding in a country witnessing a war after another and economic catastrophe.
- The Right to education
Ministry of Education: Its role is to make sure that every single child receive education whether in public or in private schools. Lebanese parents can barely pay the school fees.. A big protest should occur... how can Lebanese stay so passive in this country when the most essential i.e. education is not affordable anymore... This issue requires a seperate tackling.
- The Right to development of a child's personality
(1) Children should not be involved / influenced by religious/political conflicts. I leave it uncommented because it should be obvious that a lot of children in Lebanon are educated by their parents toward xenophobia/racism/hate...
(2) Children should have the right of living their childhood, i.e, free to play and not learn during early age. In Lebanon a child is obliged to begin learning the alphabet/writing/learn by heart poems at a very early age of 3 years, this is cruel.
(3) Acknowledge the "Child as a Person" in our society/treated with respect of his/her freedom of speech/development of ideas/contributions.
(4) The right of a child to live in freedom.
- The Rights to family protection
Secure families offer security to children. Parents must be secured financially, supported morally, and their privacy should be protected. Intervention of the state in a child's life is not allowed without the involvement of the parents. It is essential to support the family as a whole in case of observation of abnormality in a child's behavior.
- The Right to have a support in case of education problems
Inexistent in Lebanon, even in very renowned private schools, parents are obliged to pay high price in case of "education problems", i.e. legasthenic, ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), post-war trauma etc.
- The Right of being taken care of
Children require both parents in case of divorce. Lebanon's cruel system still did not take care of this matter. In Christian marriages the mother has the custody over the daughter till the age of 9 yrs and for her son only till the age of 7 yrs. Among Sunni Muslims, the father has physical custody of a daughter over the age of nine and of a boy over the age of seven. For Shia Muslims the father generally has physical custody for boys at age 2 and for girls at age 7.
If a father establishes that the mother is unfit or lacking good moral character, she will lose any right to the child.
The problem is that often children lose a parent completely in case of divorce.
Orphans have the right of having parents, also in this case religious problems exist in Lebanon (It is forbidden for a Muslim to adopt a child/Christians are very shy on this matter too).
- The Right to obtain food
Children have the right to obtain food, yes, even this is not a fact in Lebanon. Endless families live under poverty line and uncounted numbers of children live with one ratio of food/unhealthy food in Lebanon.
- The Right to freedom of expression
Children can express verbally or non-verbally. Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democratic rights and freedoms. In its very first session in 1946, before any human rights declarations or treaties had been adopted, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 59 stating "Freedom of information is a fundamental human right and ... the touchstone of all the freedoms to which the United Nations is consecrated."
- The Right to have friends of any kind
In Lebanon not obvious, religion and politics still intervene in a child's freedom to chose his friend halting an integration in the society and tearing it apart.
- The Right to own property
Should be anchored in the Children's rights especially for girls.
- The Right to liberty
A child's right not to be punished with prison. A child's right to live in a secure and stable country. A child's right to live in an independent, sovereign and free country.
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After this monologue few replies to GeorgeY, seekNirvana, Dalzi, GregDavis, Dodzi and of course to joseph-lubnan:
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i agree with you Joumana but Lebanon cannot be described as a "country" in any sense except the sense of taking taxes. dont forget there are a lot of other equally important subjects like the elderly rights, medication, electricity which i think effects all lebanese and have an indirect role for all those subjects. since if we have decent cheap electricity all lebanon will prosper for the industry which is 0 in my opinion in lebanon.
but to go back to the subject, isnt it more important to discuss a way on how to implement these laws? how can we make thousands of ppl deliver their voices to MPs? is there or can there be any system for sending them?
i am ready to sell my vote for MPs that will tell me their opinions and views about such matters and who will keep me up to date on what is happening in such matters. But are there others that would sell their votes for the benefit of Lebanon instead of couple of hundreds of USD? will they ever realize that in Lebanon? i only hope so
and by the way the ppl the sell their voices are the most that need such laws? dont u think that is ironic in a way?
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Dear GeorgeY, Always thank you for your valuable contributions which I always eagerly read because they are challenging. To make it short "what can be done": (1) Everyone should apply those rights in his own background, (2) in case he/she is a member of a political party or organization offer the proposal to fight for children rights as the most essential for an improvement in our beloved country, (3) Prepare for a petition and eventually public visits to officials in order to implement a bill protecting children as above stated. So far Lebanon and its politicians (check the speeches of politicians which is evidence on its own that children are not taken into consideration) failed to think of this element in our society. I hope I quenched your curiosity, dear GeorgeY:)
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Even though the topic is spot on with regards to failures in education, many of the symptoms can be traced back to the poor economic situation. It is improbable that any direct action can cure the networks of child labor for instance.
Government action can help in many cases, and can establish a good framework, however it's up to civil society to be concerned. Schools and universities can be a good contributor too. The topic of civic responsibility was recently introduced to Lebanese high schools. It was a commendable plan, but the material taught is sub-standard to say the least. Such actions could be integrated in the high school scholastic program and become a steady effort instead of a one-time shot when a private initiative surfaces once a year.
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SeekNirvana, you highlighted the essential two points: education and economy, and while writing this thread I tried to reply to you. I noticed that you have a detailled knowledge about what is going on in schools, it would be great if you can deliver more materials that would help beyond the following agreement
Children’s Rights: Lebanon – Law Library of Congress which is actually the job of the government. Why civic societies should always bare this cross? My concern is that on the one side the funding of civic societies obliges them toward a certain policy, on the other side an intensive engagement of governments in this prospect would sensibilize our Lebanese politicians toward a changed attitude (I hope).
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We already have 3 children MPs! I guess children are well represented in Parliament!
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Dodzi, thanks for the pics and info :) But those kids are not part of my view about "children rights":) (psshhhh, but I cracked from laughter)
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I expected another "Tayyar Madares"...
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joseph-Lubnan, thanks a lot for your "as usual great contributions" which SHOW HOW OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT LEBANON. It is obvious that all you care about is "human dignity", "human rights", "freedom of expression". All the best in your maturity development process.
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You forgot to mention
-The right to eat
-The right not to be bombed to pieces by the leaders of democracy |
Dadzi, you are so right but allow me to state it as such: The right not to be bombed to pieces by all leaders. I hope you accept my comment as a collective responsability.
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When I saw the thread heading 'children and politics' I was expecting just that.
I was expecting to read about Lebanon's exploitation of children particularly with political/sectarian lines adopted by parents and embedded into the developing minds of our nation's future generations.
Lebanon is one of the few countries in the world where an eight year old would pledge allegiance to a politician , and would sit and talk politics as though he/she were an adult.
The result is an entire generation brainwashed with misconceptions of their fellow citizens.
Children should be allowed to be children, innocent and free of hatred, politics and all forms of bigotry influence.
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Last but not least, dear GregDavis. I cannot but approve with what you stated as a massive violation of a child's development and his rights. Thank you so much.
Role of Children in Politics -
14th July 2009
