Universal Children’s Day messages - ‘Let’s bring an end to children’s suffering’ |20 November 2017

“We need to step up collective action to end children’s suffering everywhere,” says Dr Erna Athanasius, Ambassador for Women and Children and chairperson of the National Council for Children, in her message on the occasion of the Universal Children’s Day being celebrated today.

Dr Athanasius’ message reads :

“It is stated that ‘The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most rapidly and widely ratified, International Human Rights Treaty in history’, for its unprecedented acceptance worldwide, and for changing the way children were viewed and treated. They were no longer to be considered passive objects of care and charity. 

“In Seychelles, our children enjoy free primary and secondary education, free health care, improved housing and sanitation, access to sport and leisure activities, equal opportunities for girls, restriction on child labour, among other rights. Nevertheless, still too many innocents around the region and elsewhere, do not enjoy their rights at par with their peers, despite an impressive set of laws that they may have regarding child protection in their country.

“A Universal Children's day was first proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1954 as a way to encourage all countries to set aside a day that would both promote mutual exchange and understanding among the children of the world, as well as to motivate countries to take actions to benefit and promote the welfare of children. November 20 marks the day when the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959, and later, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989. The world made a promise to children that we would do whatever it takes to protect their rights, to provide them with a happy childhood.

“While many of our own children here in Seychelles are being given the recognition and encouragement to grow and develop in sound and safe environments, we have many who share similar abuses of their basic human rights, as their peers around the world.

“As we reflect on this anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, we must recommit to respecting the rights of our children to be heard, to play, to be educated, to be fed, to good health and to grow and develop to be valued members of society.

“We must be reminded that for a child to develop, the child by necessity and right, requires 3 things:

Proper nutrition – Child malnutrition affects both physical and mental development and negatively impacts the future potential of the child;

The ability to communicate – we are social beings and the ability to use language to communicate is determined by the formation of language skills in early childhood;

Emotional stability - A person’s emotional constitution is dependent on the relationship between the child and the care-givers from very early.

“These requirements are basic and non-optional if we seek to develop viable adults. We need to invest time and resources, care and love, to respect, promote and protect the rights of children, and in so doing we can empower them and bring forth the shining promise that is within each and every one of them.

“As a Paediatrician, as well as the Ambassador for Women and Children and chairperson of the National Council for Children, I take this opportunity to call upon everyone to raise awareness about the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children's rights are basic human rights.

“Our children are blessed that they are not exposed to armed conflict or harmful cultural practices that their peers around the world endure, however, our children are still exposed to violence and abuse - and as we have seen over the last couple of weeks, some are sometimes the perpetrators of this violence and abuse. “Nonetheless, it is important to reiterate, that this is learned behaviour and almost always the responsibility of the primary caregivers i.e. their parents/guardians and the communities within which they live. These children often suffer the most as a result of domestic violence and broken homes, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, basic neglect by parents and society at large.

We must advocate for continued review of legislation; we must ensure accountability for violation of children's rights; we must identify the marginalised and vulnerable children being excluded from school or other services or those that need special protection (such as children with disabilities of every kind); we must abandon policies and practices that are damaging to children such as corporal punishment, police detention, and institutionalisation.

“Although addressed to governments, the Convention actually addresses the responsibilities of all members of society. It is our responsibility to protect our children and I believe, the only way to fostering long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and prosperity for our country.

“Moving forward, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in 2015, also represents one of the most important commitments to the world’s children since the adoption of the UN Convention of the Right of the Child (UNCRC) in 1989. These SDGs commit the world’s leaders to making sure that children have access to health and education, that they do not suffer any form of violence, abuse and exploitation. The SDGs also commit to leaving no child behind.

“We need to step up collective action to end children’s suffering everywhere.”