violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

of forced displacement, women’s income generation,and equitable access to facilities suchas water supplies, roads and paths, transportsystems, drainage, and sanitation. Other socialpolicies with a proven positive effect on familylife include access to social protection systems,such as social security benefits for people whosuffer from disabilities or who care for childrenwith disabilities; unemployment benefits;health insurance or free care for the indigent;income or food supplementation for those inextreme need. (Social policy interventions arediscussed in greater detail in the chapter onviolence against children in the community.)Other strategiesAlthough the direct impact of these interventionson violence against children has not beenwell researched, general health initiatives at thecommunity level can reduce levels of violence.82Violence against children in the home and familyGirls’ advisory committees:A child-led activity in rural EthiopiaPrimary schools are the one location in rural Ethiopia that bring together girls (andboys) who might be vulnerable to forced early marriage. The creation of Girls’ AdvisoryCommittees (GAC) is an innovation in Ethiopian primary schools aimed at preventingchild marriage and other forms of gender discrimination.The Girls’ Advisory Committee is not a club, but a school committee linked to theParent–Teacher Association. GACs work to create a more positive environment forchildren at home and at school, by awareness-raising and other means. They vary incomposition, but include male and female students, sometimes a community member,and a female teacher as advisor. The student members act as links between families inthe community and the school, reporting on upcoming child marriages, abductions,teasing, harassment, and extended absence of girls from school.Where an impending marriage of a young girl is reported, the GAC visits the parents toattempt to dissuade them. If they refuse to listen, the GAC asks the parents to come tothe school. The teachers then ask the parents to cancel the marriage, explaining that itis illegal. This is normally successful. Mothers are reported as saying they are glad thattheir daughter has escaped the life they were forced into, but they would not be able toprotest the marriage without the backup of the school.This example of child-led activity illustrates the necessity of an integrated approach,whereby children’s efforts are backed up by authority figures such as schoolteachers,and the law. 190