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ALL OVER THE WORLD

CHILDREN ARE SAYING

“HEAR OUR VOICES”

CHIlDREN’S RIGHTSFrom The

Children’s point of view

WHAT THE FREE STATE

CHILDREN HAVE TO SAY

ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS

iCAM VIEWERS

Please pass this message to at least 15

others, you can make a difference,

because we are the adults of tomorrow.

Make every day children’s day

Viewers as parents we request you to

please lobby for the children,s rights in all

spheres that you are active in. We accept

that rights carry with them certain

responsibilities from our side.

RIGHT TO HEALTH CAREWe need:

Proper dental care

Good shelter, neat and clean homes

Protection from sexual, physical and emotional abuse, as that makes us physically and mentally ill

Protection from alcohol and drug abuse

Protection from and information about HIV/AIDS

Proper and friendly health care services

Adequate health care services for the detection and treatment of mental and physical disabilities

Promotion of a healthy lifestyle to communities for prevention purposes

Our responsibility towards this right is:

To ensure that to practice health habits that we have been taught

Not expose ourselves to factors that will be detrimental to our health

RIGHT TO EDUCATIONWe say:

No corporal punishment in schools

Schools should have resources like libraries, laboratories etc.,

No discrimination by colour,class or sex, culture etc.,

Parents should be involved in their children’s schoolwork and activities

Provide a feeding scheme to needy learners in schools

There should be scholar patrols and road safety signs in schools

We are at school to learn and not to clean classrooms

There should be no violence, favouritism and abuse from teachers in schools

Schools should protect our rights

OUR RESPONSILITY

Take care of school property and books

Abide by the school rules

Respect our teachers other children and our parents

Must form supporting groups, learners should be watchdogs we must open our eyes to everything that is happening around us

RIGHT TO FAMILY LIFE Families should not be separated, street children

to be placed in shelters if they cannot go back to their homes

Parents need to have jobs so that they

can provide for their children

Children should not be burdened by too much housework such they cannot do their homework and play

Good communication among families

After school care should be available for children of working parents

Families should give guidance to children on life/social skills, if they lack such skills government should assist

Destitute families should receive social relief

OUR RESPONSIBILITY Not damage house property

Consult our parents before making decisions

Ensuring that our parents know our whereabouts

Respect house rules

Communicate needs to our parents

RIGHT TO RECREATION All schools should have sports

facilities

Residential areas should have sports facilities and playgrounds and these should be kept clean

Family recreation and toys/ home made ones are also important.

Sports trainers should be available

OUR RESPONSBILITY

Keep our recreational areas clean and tidy no dumping

To watch out and report people who vandalise sports and recreational sites

Take care of plants , animals, birds, buildings, water

Start enviromental/recreational clubs

RIGHT TO GOOD NUTRITION

Every home should have a vegetable garden

Schools should have vegetable gardens to help feed needy children

Learners should get marks for taking care of the school vegetable gardens

All meals to be nutritious and adequate

OUR RESPONSIBILITY

To assist parents in caring for the vegetable garden

Not to waste food

Take a lunch box to school where possible

Avoid unhealthy foods such as cakes and sweets

RIGHT TO SAFETY Needy families should be provided

with safe housing that will withstand all kinds of weather

Adults should not drink and drive, they must be on the look out for children

Rape and violence needs to be stopped

Poisonous things should be stored

where small children cannot reach

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES We should wear clothing that can alert

drivers when riding bicycles

Children should not use streets as a playground

Children should insist on adult supervision

No children should play outside their house at night

RIGHT TO SPECIAL TREATMENT/DISABILITIES

All government services should make provision for disabled children

Disabled children should no be discriminated against

Communities should be sensitive to the needs of disabled children

Disabled children should be provided with special equipment e.g. spectacles

RIGHT TO CULTURE AND NATIONALITY

We need to be taught to respect other people’s culture and nationality

Know about people’s cultures religions and countries

No racial discrimination among all race groups

Racial tolerance should prevail

OUR RESPONSIBILITY

Be proud of who we are and take action to improve our lives, stop blaming others.

Refrain from making unpleasant racial remarks

Even if there are no laws we still have to learn to trust each other and not to fight

RIGHT T0 ECD PROGRAMS(Early Childhood Development) All children should be exposed to

ECD centres/preschools as this prepares them for school

ECD centres should be safe and provide good basis to children

The teachers/caregivers at ECD centres should be role models and be properly trained.

RIGHT TO PARTICIPATION The should be nothing about us

without us

Children want to be involved in the following:

Planning for HIV/AIDS programs

Forums for drug and alcohol abuse, for rape and child abuse and environmental awareness

OUR RESPONSBILITY

Children participants involved in adult programs should give others feedback

Children should request participation in all programs involving them

Children should have forums about their issues and report/lobby for action from government

RIGHT TO JUSTICE WHEN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW

Children should not be placed in the same prisons as adults

Children who violated the law need to be rehabilitated not punished

Factors leading to crime such as lack of food need to addressed by government

Children need to be taught about crime prevention

Children need to receive a fair trial and not to be prejudiced

Children need education in prison and to be prepared for a career or trade

Children need to be assisted to adjust to normal life after imprisonment

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Children who have committed crimes must stand for their wrongdoing

Children should report criminal behavior and not join in

Children should seek help when gangs force them to join them

THE RIGHT FOR PROTECTION AGAINST CHILD LABOUR

Needy children are forced to work for food, shelter, school fees etc.,

Orphans need to be cared for government

Needy families should receive grants

Education should be free and compulsory

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Children should put education before work

Children who are above 15yrs should do partime jobs only during school vacation

Children should not be engaged in drug abuse because it is an expensive criminal and destructive habit

IN CONCLUSION

Respecting and protecting

children’s rights forms the

basis of respecting human rights.

Children’s rights are human rights