In the beginning there were child protection workshops. A status-quo analysis was to provide an overview of what is already being done to protect children: What is the general understanding of where abuse begins and what is understood by it? Are the co-workers in the SOS facilities familiar with the child rights? Are there appropriate training modules for co-workers on all levels, including the executive level? Whom do people turn to first when they suspect a case of abuse?
Methods such as focus groups and round-table conversations contribute to creating awareness of the fact that all children need rights in everyday life. It is particularly important for children to participate in decision-making processes that affect their life in the SOS Children's Village.
In Bangladesh for example children and young people are present at all official staff meetings. Children's rights must be communicated to children in a child-friendly manner. This involves basic explanations of the different forms of abuse that children are subject to. This not only includes adult-to-child abuse but also child-to-child abuse. Furthermore, this year a "Young Adult Meeting" was held for the first time. Eighteen young people, who are currently experiencing the most difficult phase of becoming independent, participated in the meeting. Some of the topics that were raised were their experience within their SOS families, the relationship between boys and girls, guidance at the labour market and issues regarding marriage.
Foto: A. Gabriel
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SOS Children's Villages Kenya has been concerned about children's rights and child protection for several years. Staff members, for example, sign a code of conduct in which they commit themselves to telling children about their rights and showing them where to turn to in difficult situations or if they have problems with the implementation of their rights. Co-workers participated in workshops where they learnt about children's rights, the prevention of abuse and the empowerment of children. People who have been abused themselves are more apt to fall into the same patterns they learnt themselves. Therefore, workshops are organised where co-workers such as SOS mothers can reappraise their own traumas.
A children's hotline has been set up for the general public, enabling children in Kenya to talk about their problems round the clock, anonymously and free of cost. It is estimated that one in three girls and one in five boys under the age of 18 are sexually abused. SOS Children's Villages has set up this emergency number together with ministries, authorities and the national telephone company Telkom.
Another initiative on the topic of child rights and child participation was launched at the SOS Children's Village Bethlehem on the West Bank. In October, a children's council was elected, in which nine children and/or young people represent their peers and are involved in planning processes within the SOS Children's Village where they are mediators between the children and the co-workers - especially the SOS mothers. It also involves shared responsibility, mutual respect, conflict resolution and democracy within the small village community.
The whole nomination process, the "pre-election publicity" and the training of the small "representatives" was organised in cooperation with the Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizen's Rights and Defense for Children International/Palestine Section. In Bethlehem people hope that the interests of the children are communicated more effectively via children, that the children and young people are able to actively participate in organizing developments that directly affect their lives and that the exchange between care persons and beneficiaries takes place in a more open and constructive way - a democratic-political micro-project for children and adults.