violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

“Children are caught between the hate and fury of two groups: local delinquents and police forces (quitea global phenomenon) reinforces the sense of powerlessness in the poorer communities; and amongstyouth, reinforces the idea that the use of violence is acceptable, and again, something quite pervasive.”Nancy Cardia, Editorial Board of the UN Secretary-General’s Study on Violence against ChildrenRaising voices in UgandaOver 1,400 children were involved in research in five districts of Uganda in 2004 and2005. It focused on the various types of violence they experience at home, in schoolsand in the community, how it makes them feel, and their ideas about violence-freechildhoods. Also involved were almost 1,100 adults who provided their perceptions ofpunishment and discipline, mistreatment and how they also feel about the issues. Theresearch fed into an evidence-based advocacy campaign, launched in 2006, directed atprotecting and promoting children’s rights to live free from violence. These efforts wereintended to increase public debate and break down the barriers to taking action. Thecampaign made an important contribution to the Ministry of Education and Sport’sinitiative on banning all corporal punishment in schools in Uganda. 229322Violence against children in the communityfor some older children as assistants in trafficcontrol at peak hours. 230The Consortium for Street Children undertookan international research study into policechild rights training programmes around theworld. It documented training programmesaimed at reducing violence against childrenliving on the street in a large number of countries,mostly under the auspices of NGOs,with cooperation from local authorities andwith some donor support. Having identifieda number of good practices, the Consortiumcompiled a manual for such training. TheConsortium commented: “Widespread, consistent,long-term and sustainable change willonly be possible when child rights and childprotection is formally recognised and includedin official curricula, manuals and collaborativeagreements.” 231However, training police has proved largelyineffective in changing police behaviour,where it is not accompanied by, or reinforcedby, efforts to change attitudes and organisationalculture. 232 In terms of health care providers,training frequently influences changesin knowledge and awareness in the short term,but these changes are difficult to translateinto behavioural change or changes in practice.233,234,235,236 To improve the potential oftraining efforts to reduce violence against childrenthey have to be part of a wider strategy,including law reform and attitudinal change.Other potential ways to prevent police violenceinclude increasing the numbers of women servingas police officers, providing independentcomplaints mechanisms, and improving thepay and status of police officers.Accountability, and access to justiceState violence and corruption are two factorsdirectly associated with violence in communities.Community confidence in localsecurity and justice systems is central to theeffectiveness of public policies. Internationallegal instruments emphasise the importance of