violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

304Violence against children in the communityincreased community pride and informal socialcontrol rather than as a result of increased surveillanceand deterrence.Seriously inadequate housing, and overcrowdingwithin both dwellings and neighbourhoodscan have a damaging effect on childnurture. 124,125 Among the most frequent communityhealth concerns related to familyhousing are the inadequate supply of affordablehousing for low-income people and theincreasing spatial segregation of householdsby income, race, ethnicity, or social class intounsafe neighbourhoods. 126 The increasingconcentration of poverty can result in physicaland social deterioration of neighbourhoods,resulting in housing disinvestment, deterioratedphysical conditions, and reduced abilityof formal and informal institutions to maintainpublic order.Forced evictionsRecognition of the right of the child to a standardof living adequate for his or her physical,mental, spiritual, moral and social developmentis set out in article 27 of the CRC,and is fundamental to ensuring children’ssecurity and to protecting them from violence.Adequate housing, along with adequate foodand clothing, is considered to be an elementconstituting the right to an adequate standardof living (article 11 International Covenant onEconomic, Social and Cultural Rights).In its 2005 State of the World’s Children Report,UNICEF reported that more than one out ofevery three children in the developing worldlive in inadequate housing (approximately 640million children). One in five does not haveaccess to safe water (approximately 400 millionchildren). While child homelessness is perhapsthe most visible and dire violation of children’shousing rights, all violations of housing rights,from forced eviction to inadequate housing conditions,have special ramifications for children.While forced evictions are universally detrimentalto all their victims, they have special implicationsfor children. Forced evictions are oftenaccompanied by violence, particularly againstwomen and children who are most likely to beat home when such a procedure is carried out.Evidence suggests that in response to the violence,panic and confusion so often characteristicof forced eviction, many children experiencerecurrent nightmares, anxiety and distrust. Theimpacts on family stability and the emotionalwell-being of children can be devastating, evenwhen evictions are followed by immediate relocation.Children also have recounted increasedincidents of violence within their own homesafter a forced eviction had taken place. 127,128GangsGangs are an important factor in violenceamong and against children in many parts ofthe world. UNICEF Country Offices in thePhilippines, Vietnam, Mongolia and Cambodiaall report worrying levels of gang fights and violentgang initiation practices among some of thepoorest communities, often involving childrenliving on the street. 129 In addition to violencedirected outside the gang, it may also be usedagainst members who fail the gang, refuse tocarry out a leader’s order, or are in breach of itsinternal rules. 130