Postcard from Kosovo
The Head of UNICEF Office in Kosovo, Mr. Robert Fuderich, highlights key monthly achievments and priorities
Postcard #4: September, 18 2006 Mr. Fuderich's speech at the launch of the campaign: Talk against violence - For a violence free school Dear children, dear Mr. Deputy Minister, Representatives of Liaison offices and representatives of the media. It’s a special pleasure for me to be here today and be part of the launch of MEST/UNICEF report on Violence against children in schools as well as the campaign Talk against violence – For a violence free school. The campaign aims to inform teachers, parents and children themselves on the prevalance of violence, forms of violence and ways how to address it. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is guided by four main principles: non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, survival and development, and respect for the views of the child. Article 19.1 requires signatories to develop measures to protect children while in the care of responsible adults, such as parents, or those who stand in place of parents. The same Article also obliges signatories to undertake protective measures such as identification, reporting, referral, investigation, treatment and follow-up of instances of child maltreatment. Violence against children is prohibited in Kosovo too but as in all other places in the world the incidences of violence against children persist in different settings including schools and it cuts across social, cultural and racial boundaries. Speaking on violence against children is a difficult step for any society as the first reaction of the public is – denial. Even the most developed and propserous of societies have struggled to confront violence against children within their midst. I have to mention here that the MEST has done a great job in leading the process of developing the study which we hope will open a public debate and lead to an improved protective environment for children. This initiative puts Kosovo on the Global agenda as it is part of the UN Secretary-General’s Study on Violence against Children, to be published in October 2006. As you will be able to see, the study illustrates that children, teachers and parents agree that corporal punishment is condoned and there is a widespread belilef that “there is no other way”. The study also raises the question of emotional violence which may be less visible than the physical one but not less harmful to fragile young lives. It also highlights the prevelance of violence in the street and the fear some children have in going to school. Peer violence is a widespread phenomenon and violence by children against teachers is also present. Without action, this circle of violence will continue and will generate more violence. We are at a time when we are facing many challanges in the education system in Kosovo. We aim to bring all children back to school especially girls, kids from Roma, Ashkalia and Egyptian communities; we owe much more to all those children with disabilities that have the right to education and to develop to their full potential; we have to remember children who are engaged in the worst forms of child labour; and victims of trafficking who have little chance to go back to a normal life. When children don’t feel safe at school, they are more likely to drop out. We have to create a friendly and protective environment for them to come back. Realising that violence exists is not enough! As the study recommends we have to establish effective strategies to prevent violence against children and make those strategies work for children. We have to develop a multi-disciplinary specialised approach to deal with the issue of violence against children. We have to continue to educate parents, children, teachers and other relevant professionals on children’s rights. We have to further study the prevalence of violence at homes and other settings and look at the most vulnerable groups of children. We have to continuously monitor and evaluate interventions that protect children and promote non-violence respect for human dignity. And last but not least, we have to encourage the media in raising awareness and changing public perceptions about the level and extent of violence against children. As we can see and hear from the children themselves today, children understand best the violence they face, the damage it does and how it can be addressed. Listening to children, consulting them and taking their views into account is vital to ending violence against children. Ending violence against children is everybody’s business. When children suffer violence, society pays the price in the short, medium and long term. It’s a challenge for everybody, everywhere and it’s a challenge for Kosovo, its institutions and communities. Violence against children robs the Kosovo society of its potential for development, hindering progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. Kosovo has had enough violence! Let’s all stand together try to stop the cycle of violence in schools as it’s the best place to start. I would now like to thank Ms. Yllka Gashi present here today, a well known actress, who agreed to join us in the campaign in the role of a Good Will Ambassador for the campaign Talk against violence – for a violence free school. I would also particularly like to thank all the children, parents and teachers who participated in the study as well as a special thanks to the Director, staff and students of the primary school Meto Bajraktari who participated in many of the promotional materials for the campaign.
Robert Fuderich,
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