Map on the Respect of Children’s Rights Worldwide Humanium has created a “Map on the Respect of Children’s Rights Worldwide” which focuses on the situation of children and their most basic rights.
The map has been created in accordance with the “Realization of Children’s Rights Index” which rates a country’s progress in implementing Children’s Rights on a scale from 0-10.
South Africa, Africa Main problems faced by children in South Africa:
Poverty 4% of South African children (the majority of them from the black community) live in destitution. The Limpopo Province is the area most affected by poverty. Children in this area face great risks living below the poverty line. In many cases, poverty in South Africa is due to the fact that the country has a high unemployment rate, in the Limpopo and Western Cape regions in particular because of this difficult socio-economic situation, some South African families (particularly single mothers and those without a fixed income) face a lack of food and so go hungry. Health The infant mortality rate, mainly resulting from the AIDS virus, has remained unchanged since 1990. However, from now until 2015, the South African government hopes to lower the mortality rate by a third for children less than 5 years old. To accomplish this, an action plan has been implemented aiming to improve health care. A large majority of children less than 5 are deficient in vitamin A and iron; these deficiencies can cause considerable growth problems. Moreover, malnourishment plays an important role in the health of young South Africans; the country must cope with malnutrition and overeating. In fact, one in ten children is underweight because of poor eating. Conversely, South Africa must fight obesity which prevails among the young. Nutrition programs have been designed for schools, so a large number of children have access to them. Education More than 90% of South African children benefit from the right to education. However, some of them don’t always have access. The main reason why these children aren’t enrolled in school is because their families are too poor to pay for their education and the costs that it incurs. In many cases, handicapped children are not educated. They suffer from discrimination, in particular in the Northern Cape Province where they very rarely go to school. Furthermore, the quality of education in South Africa remains relatively weak because of the lack of safety prevalent in schools. Child Marriage
In some South African regions and in some religious groups, child marriages are still practised; Pressured by their families, girls are obliged to marry. Child marriages can have significant consequences on health. In fact, young girls with early pregnancies risk premature labour and seeing their child born underweight. Another negative consequence is that when girls marry at a young age, they lose the possibility of an education or a career. Right to Housing Unfortunately, a large number of South African children live in shanty towns, in particular in the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces. Some of these young children live in what are called “traditional” houses; this type of housing is very common in the Eastern Cape region. In these dilapidated houses; wood remains the main source of energy. Large disparities can be observed in terms of housing. Children in rich neighbourhoods benefit from modernity and the latest technologies while children from underprivileged neighbourhoods don’t always have adequate shelter. Right to Water In South Africa, 4 out of 10 children don’t have access to running water. Because of this, a large majority of children, mainly those from Eastern Cape, depend on rainwater, streams, and rivers which remain largely unsafe. As a whole, children from rich communities have adequate sanitation. Unfortunately, this is not the case for children of poor families who don’t have access to sanitation. A large number of South African children, mainly those in shanty towns, don’t have access to toilets where they live. Detention of Minors There is still important progress to be made concerning the conditions of detainment of minors who, according to South African law, must be completely separated from adults. Yet in South African prisons, children less than 18 years old share the same building, if not the same cell, with older children. To enforce this law, minors must be moved to appropriate facilities. Consequently, urgent measures must be taken respecting these laws, above all when it is known that in prisons, Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is not respected; imprisoned children are frequently subjected to physical, emotional abuse, inflicted by other detainees or personnel.
United States, North America Main problems faced by children in the United States of America:
Poverty At the end of 2010, the US Department of Agriculture reported that about one in four children suffered from hunger in the United States. The poverty rate among children under the age of 18 has risen to approximately 20 %, but this number varies based on a child’s ethnic and social background. For example, 43 % of African-American children live in poverty. Poverty has a wide-ranging impact on children’s lives, as poor children are usually in worse health and have fewer opportunities to attend higher education. Child Abuse and Mistreatment Each year in the United States, more than 3 million cases of child abuse are reported. A lot of them have been subject to physical violence. An estimated one thousand children per year die as a result of violence or neglect in the US. Most of the time, they are younger than 4 years old. In addition, the Department of Education reported in 2007 that 200,000 students had suffered corporal punishment at school. Handicapped children are usually the primary victims of such crimes. Cybercriminals are especially prevalent in the US. The organization “Love Our Children USA” has reported that one in four children has been harassed online. Virtual bullying is often linked to real life at school: violence is regularly recorded on camera phones and posted on the Internet.
The Right to Health More than 8 million children in the United States have no health insurance, meaning about one in ten children. Thousands of others are underinsured, which impedes their right to quality health care services. Statistics show that these children are ten times less likely to receive treatment for conditions such as diabetes, asthma, oral diseases, and obesity. Children of ethnic minorities (African-Americans or Hispanics) are more at risk than
others: almost a quarter of them are not vaccinated against the most common serious illnesses. Child Labour Although child labour laws have been well enforced in the US, thousands of children, especially Hispanics, work in arduous agricultural environments. They work 14 hours a day during the harvest season, and usually end up abandoning their studies. They are also exposed to pesticides and other agrochemical treatments, which can cause serious health problems. Nutrition Reports show that 12 million American families struggle to afford enough food. This affects children in particular, causing anxiety and serious medical problems, such as immune system deficiencies or mental illnesses. Malnourished children are statistically less likely to perform well in school, and many have problems reading and writing. There is also a considerably higher dropout rate among such adolescents. At the same time, many young Americans suffer from obesity: almost one in three are considered obese or overweight. Again, minorities are more affected than others. Paradoxically, about 45 % of obese children come from difficult social circumstances. Overconsumption of sugary beverages and a lack of activity are the main causes for children becoming overweight. Obesity is also linked to health problems later in life, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, respiratory illnesses, and diabetes. Juvenile Law The American penal and criminal law has many articles that contradict the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). First, detainees who were minors at the time of the crime can be sentenced to the death penalty, which is still legal in some states. This does not adhere to article 37 of the CRC, which states that the death penalty is not a suitable sentence for crimes committed by minors. In addition, Human Rights Watch found that in 2009, over 2500 prisoners were serving a life sentence for crimes committed before the age of 18. These young detainees were held without the possibility of parole, which also contradicts the CRC (article 37a). The United States is the only country in the world which allows this practice. Child Soldier Although the United States has ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and has adopted a resolution to avoid the use of minors
as soldiers in armed conflicts, active NGOs have revealed the use of over-aggressive recruitment tactics in the US Army, and the presence of many 17 year old soldiers within its ranks. The US government also continues to provide military support for countries that are known for their use of child soldiers (notably: Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Yemen). The US has not applied the sanctions specified by the Child Soldiers Prevention Act, ratified in 2008. Worrisome too, is the capture and detention of foreign child soldiers in the US (especially in Guantanamo Bay). The US does not recognize them as detained minors or as child soldiers; instead, they are seen as terrorists and judged as adults, and they are rarely allowed any benefits from mitigating circumstances. Environment and Views of the Future As a result of their lifestyles, each American citizen produces an average of 19 tons of CO per year, which makes the United States the most pollution-producing country on our planet. If everyone worldwide consumed as much as Americans, we would need more than nine Earths to survive. This of course influences children’s views of the future, as they will have the looming responsibility of dealing with the negative consequences of pollution on our health and on nature. All children have the right to grow up in a clean and healthy environment. The government must increase its efforts to reduce the ecological damage caused by human activities. 2
Viet Nam, Asia Main problems faced by children in Viet Nam:
Poverty Over the last 20 years, Vietnam has made considerable progress in fighting poverty. However, these improvements have yet to reach the marginalized populations who live in remote regions such as the mountains of the north, the central highlands and the areas surrounding the Mekong Delta. Health Vietnam is currently experiencing a large increase in population, with the result that more and more people are seeking health care services. In 2008, only 42% of the population had healthcare coverage. Today, coverage is free, in theory, for all children under the age of 6, but in practice, access to services is still quite variable. Furthermore, even though notable progress has been made, existing hospital infrastructure and medical personnel are not sufficient to accommodate and attend to everyone in need. For example, in Ho Chi Minh City, the economic centre of Vietnam, there are only 8.2 doctors for every 10,000 residents. Lastly, the health care sector in Vietnam is largely subsidized by international organizations. Education In Vietnam, significant progress has been achieved in providing all children with access to education. Elementary school is officially free and is attended by more than 96% of children ages 6 to 11. The high school attendance rate, however, is markedly lower, and university tuition is far too expensive for many Vietnamese. Estimated at more than 960 American dollars per year, a university education is inaccessible to poor families who earn, on average, only 240 American dollars per year. Street Children According to estimates, more than 65,000 children roam the streets of the major cities of Vietnam, including 7,600 in the capital and more than 18,800 in Ho Chi Minh City.
This phenomenon has not escaped the notice of the authorities, who try to hide the troubling reality during large public events by rounding up these street children and holding them in social centres for the duration of the event. Numerous campaigns of arrests have evidently been carried out by authorities in recent years, and many children have experienced ill-treatment over the course of their arrest and confinement. Child labour More than 16% of children aged 5 to 14 work. Legally, the minimum age to work is 15 (18 for dangerous jobs), but there are exceptions for certain types of work such as traditional sports and artistic activities. Some children work in traditional craft villages, seasonal businesses, and doing restoration work. Despite being legal, the working conditions at many of these jobs is inappropriate for children, with long hours and very taxing work. Most children who work are recruited for illegal labour such as selling drugs and other illicit materials. Stateless and Invisible Children In Vietnam, 12% of children are not registered at birth. Some unmarried women do not register their child out of shame, or wrongly believe that children born out of wedlock cannot be registered. Somewhat less than half of families fail to register their child within the legal time limit. The Vietnamese authorities abolished the penalties for registering late and extended the deadlines in an effort to decrease the number of stateless children. Currently, the deadline is set at one month from birth in the plains regions and two months in the remote regions and the high mountainous plateaus. Children of Minorities The minorities who live in the mountains and in conditions of extreme poverty have little access to education, firstly because they live too far from schools and secondly because the language of instruction is Vietnamese, a language they do not speak. Also, their parents often are not aware of the importance of education and health.
Australia, Oceania Main problems faced by children in Australia: Poverty About one in seven children in Australia cannot escape poverty. Families with low incomes are struggling to raise their children and they are sometimes victims of abuse or maltreatment. Poverty in Australia mainly affects migrant families. It has a significant impact on the lives of children, who are, consequently, often less healthy and less likely to gain access to higher education.
Displaced children The situation of migrant children in Australia is getting worse. Many children, often Sri Lankans or Afghans, arrive in Australia by sea to seek asylum. In 2010, Australia suspended the processing of new asylum applications submitted by Sri Lankan and Afghan migrants. The risk is that these children will be arbitrarily detained, even though they have legitimate reasons to make their requests. In this regard, Amnesty International has said: “Unfortunately, it seems that the Australian government is now trying to trample the rights of the vulnerable.” In 2011, Australia declared its intention to send unaccompanied migrant minors back to Malaysia. The situation of these children left to fend for themselves is critical. The trip to reach Australia is long and difficult and, once there, they often suffer from health problems and malnutrition. In this situation, the respect of the child’s rights is not always assured, which is why the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has called for “special consideration and appropriate protection arrangements to be put in place for vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied minors”. Children of minorities Indigenous peoples, first found on the Australian continent, now see their rights violated and too often unrecognized. These people have seen their land and crops devastated. These actions have tragic effects on indigenous children. Most of them live in poverty, with little hope of change in Australian society.
These people living on the fringe of society find themselves deprived of basic rights, such as education or health. Children who do not have access to adequate education, will be for a large part unemployed once adults. As soon as they reach the “city�, indigenous children begin to face discrimination, and must fight against their identity. These children are victims of racism in society; they are left out and few opportunities are available to them. This discrimination leads children to spend their days locked in their clan consuming alcohol and drugs. Aboriginal people are quite poor, which is why many indigenous children suffer from hunger and are victims of malnutrition. A report by the Government of the Northern Territory has revealed that many children have been subjected to abuse in remote communities. Children are then traumatized and it is difficult for them to understand the judicial authorities. Child abuse Each year there are about 46,187 children are victims of abuse in Australia. The children most affected by abuse or negligence are those under 1 year old and those between 1 and 4 years old. The number of cases of psychological violence is increasing in Australia. Indeed, many children regularly witness domestic violence, which disturbs and affect them. In these situations, it is necessary that the child can access health and social services so that any psychological disorders are diagnosed or excluded early on. Environment With 18.1 tons of CO2 per capita per year, Australia is one of the worst performers in terms of pollution of the planet. It also has an impact on children’s lives and their future prospects. All children have the right to live in a healthy environment. Australia has progress to make in order to reduce its environmental footprint.
Spain, Europe Main problems faced by children in Spain:
Poverty Spain has a difficult obstacle to overcome: poverty. More than 20% of the population lives below the poverty line. This statistic is tragic for a country where the standard of living is so high. This has negative consequences for the state of children. Since they have insufficient financial support, these children have limited access to education, health care and nutritious food. Right to health The Spanish health care system is fairly well developed. Medical personnel and materials are made available to the population. Additionally, health care in Spain is free, which is an important element in the fight against discrimination. Nevertheless, the percentage of people with HIV remains fairly high. The health authorities must continue information campaigns regarding how to prevent transmitting HIV to children in order to limit the spread of the disease. Violence against Children Despite the presence of child protection services, Spain reports many cases of child abuse each year. About 800,000 cases of domestic violence were reported in 2007. Victims of child abuse can be either the witnesses or the direct victims. It is tragic that some children are killed because they are of different nationalities. Migrant children who are held in detention centres are victims of physical and psychological violence, as well. Sometimes they are deprived of education, playtime and trips outside. They are isolated within themselves and become even more aggressive. A 2009 report from the National Mediator mentioned that they had to administer medicine in order to calm many of the children. Refugee children Spain is faced with a large amount of immigration from Africa and Eastern Europe. These migrants or refugees arrive in groups and often bring their children.
The children, vulnerable and weak, often have to walk for hours or hide in trucks in order to arrive in Spain. The trip can turn out to be deadly and some lose their lives along the way. Once they arrive, their situation is not guaranteed to get better. Many of these minors find themselves alone in Spain without their parents. Without food, they are faced to live in the street with limited access to water. The Spanish government must improve their response, but also the conditions that the children return to in their home country. Discrimination Roma children and migrant children are affected the most. Primarily due to their foreign origins, their access to education is limited, or even prohibited. Positive steps have been taken, however, there is much left to do. As a signatory of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, Spain must attempt to eradicate all forms of discrimination that affect children in their country. Legal and Criminal protection In Spain, according to the current law, foreign children receive the same legal and criminal protection as Spanish children. In reality, however, this is not the case. Migrant children, for example, are faced with slow responses and delays from the Spanish authorities. These children are then placed in detention centres where their rights are not always respected.